Brownsville, TX at a glance
Median household income
$52,130$4,344 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Brownsville, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Brownsville, TX? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $773 | $9,276 | $30,920 | 17.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $866 | $10,392 | $34,640 | 19.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,047 | $12,564 | $41,880 | 24.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,414 | $16,968 | $56,560 | 32.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,479 | $17,748 | $59,160 | 34% |
What a typical income covers in Brownsville, TX
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $52,130 a year ($4,344 a month before tax).
What $52,130 leaves after Texas taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Texas tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Texas
Living in Brownsville, TX: common questions
What is the median household income in Brownsville, TX?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Brownsville, TX is $52,130 per year (approximately $4,344 per month).
What is the average rent in Brownsville, TX?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $773 for a studio, $866 for one bedroom, $1,047 for two, $1,414 for three and $1,479 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Brownsville, TX expensive to live in?
Prices there run 14% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Brownsville, TX?
To keep a $1,047 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $41,880 a year, or $3,490 a month. That is 80% of what the typical household in Brownsville, TX earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Brownsville, TX?
On the local median income of $52,130 ($4,344 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,172 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,303 for everything else and $869 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,047 takes 48% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Brownsville, TX?
Homes in Texas paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.