Cost of Living in McAllen, TX
| Cost of Living in McAllen, TX | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 28% lower | 40% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 19% higher | 20% higher |
| Food | 3% lower | 7% lower |
| Healthcare | 20% lower | 21% lower |
| Transportation | 0% | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 9% lower | 8% lower |
The cost of living in McAllen, TX is 10% lower than the state average and 15% lower than the national average. McAllen, TX housing is 40% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 20% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 7% cheaper in McAllen, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 21% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 8% cheaper in McAllen, TX.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in McAllen is $983, while home prices circle around $291,921.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In McAllen, energy bills cost around $264.62 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.54 in McAllen, a dozen eggs go for around $2.96 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.48.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In McAllen, an optometry check-up costs around $100.21, while a dentist appointment is priced $88.11 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.96 in McAllen, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $66.55.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $32.95 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $25.41.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in McAllen, you should budget around $13.07 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.03, while dry cleaning costs about $11.64.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In McAllen, the median household income is $60,165.