CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Tampa, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
FL
Tampa
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Brownsville is significantly cheaper than Tampa — 17.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $93,900 in Tampa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+118.0%
Brownsville
57.7
Tampa
125.8
🛒 Groceries+1.8%
Brownsville
93.8
Tampa
95.5
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Brownsville
101.1
Tampa
102.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Brownsville
91.4
Tampa
92.7
Utilities+9.0%
Brownsville
81.2
Tampa
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Brownsville to see what you'd need to earn in Tampa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tampa, FL
$93,900
$13,900 more needed in Tampa

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1733. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Tampa, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Tampa has 118.0% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Tampa, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
399,700
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Tampa, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.