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Cost of living in McAllen, TX

Livability score 78 · cost-of-living index 86.1 (US = 100)

McAllen, TX
Photo: Valleyite12 via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How McAllen compares

Where McAllen falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 86 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 86 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $194k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $194k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $92 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $92 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.2% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.2% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.82% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.82% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 430 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 430 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 96° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 96° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 38° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 38°

Map of McAllen

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 86.1 metro-area #5 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 92.9 metro-area #1 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $4.90 metro-area #5 of 200
Median household income $49,371 metro-area #197 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $27,396 metro-area #198 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 30.3 years metro-area #4 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 20.3% metro-area #194 of 200
Foreign-born residents 26.0% metro-area #8 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 67.6% metro-area #82 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 7.61% metro-area #189 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +4.0% metro-area #97 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $193,978 metro-area #7 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× metro-area #44 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +0.6% metro-area #122 of 200
Price per square foot $92 metro-area #3 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,099 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,128 metro-area #8 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 3,650
Median days on market 79 metro-area #200 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.6% state #9 of 200
Combined sales tax 8.20% state #116 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 1.82% metro-area #179 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,047 metro-area #67 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 77.3 years metro-area #77 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 state #93 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 30.2% metro-area #198 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 46 metro-area #189 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,500 state #37 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $75 state #46 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Required
Emissions detail Required in major metro counties (Travis, Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, etc.)
DMV & license offices 4
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #58 of 200
Commute by driving alone 75.8% metro-area #108 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 26.4% metro-area #51 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 17.0¢/kWh state #90 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $153 state #90 of 200
Gasoline $3.00/gal state #24 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $134 state #142 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $83 state #135 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $3,600 state #164 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $2,100 state #126 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 99.0 — Relatively High metro-area #184 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 54 metro-area #168 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 3,000 metro-area #162 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,800 metro-area #27 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 163 metro-area #199 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 26 metro-area #195 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 96°F metro-area #181 of 200
Avg winter low 38°F metro-area #46 of 200
Annual precipitation 32.4" metro-area #50 of 200
Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 67% metro-area #45 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 8b
Frost window 02-25 → 12-01

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 430 state #111 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,400 state #131 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200
Parks 60
Hiking areas 15
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 4

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy; rural areas minimal, major cities moderate

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in McAllen

Major public and private employers in the McAllen, TX area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Healthcare Search →
Edinburg Regional Medical Center Healthcare Search →
T-Mobile telecom Careers →
Spectrum telecom Search →
Panasonic Manufacturing Careers →
General Electric Aviation Aerospace/Defense Careers →

Salaries by occupation in McAllen

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $172,200
Pharmacists $139,240
Physician Assistants $124,990
Financial Managers $117,550
Lawyers $102,590
Human Resources Managers $101,910
Marketing Managers $100,400
Physical Therapists $99,200
Software Developers $97,420
Mechanical Engineers $86,620
Registered Nurses $76,160
Construction Managers $75,520
Dental Hygienists $73,670
Data Scientists $73,270
Civil Engineers $69,350
General & Operations Managers $66,570
Accountants & Auditors $63,320
Elementary School Teachers $62,250
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,890
Web Developers $59,060
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $45,090
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $44,870
Electricians $44,000
Carpenters $40,150
Graphic Designers $40,010
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $37,910
Real Estate Sales Agents $35,010
Medical Assistants $28,650

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