CostIndexUSA

Johnson City, TN vs McAllen, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

McAllen is slightly cheaper than Johnson City — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Johnson City, you would need $78,200 in McAllen. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.6%
Johnson City
63.2
McAllen
55.9
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Johnson City
96.2
McAllen
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.2%
Johnson City
99.9
McAllen
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Johnson City
90.4
McAllen
91.4
Utilities+12.9%
Johnson City
71.9
McAllen
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Johnson City to see what you'd need to earn in McAllen to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in McAllen, TX
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in McAllen

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 87.9) = salary × 0.9772. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
63.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Johnson City has 11.6% lower housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Household Income
$56,800
Per Capita Income
$32,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
68,006
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Johnson City, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

McAllen, TX
4.1×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.