Cost of Living in McAllen, TX
| Cost of Living in McAllen, TX | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 30% lower | 42% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% higher | 7% higher |
| Food | 2% lower | 8% lower |
| Healthcare | 19% lower | 24% lower |
| Transportation | 4% lower | 7% lower |
| Goods & Services | 8% lower | 12% lower |
The cost of living in McAllen, TX is 11% lower than the state average and 18% lower than the national average. McAllen, TX housing is 42% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 7% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 8% cheaper in McAllen, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 12% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 24% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 12% 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 $978, while home prices circle around $272,193.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In McAllen, energy bills cost around $210.36 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 $4.56 in McAllen, a dozen eggs go for around $3.28 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.50.
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 $97.64, while a dentist appointment is priced $81.00 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.89 in McAllen, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.54.
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 $29.18 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $23.97.
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 $11.02 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $19.83, while dry cleaning costs about $10.79.
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.