CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
AZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Tucson — 12.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $90,100 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+59.1%
Brownsville
57.7
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Brownsville
93.8
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Brownsville
101.1
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Brownsville
91.4
Tucson
94.8
Utilities+10.2%
Brownsville
81.2
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$90,100
$10,100 more needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1267. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Tucson has 59.1% 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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.