McAllen, TX at a glance
Median household income
$61,579$5,132 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in McAllen, 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 McAllen, TX? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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 | $842 | $10,104 | $33,680 | 16.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $847 | $10,164 | $33,880 | 16.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,060 | $12,720 | $42,400 | 20.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,376 | $16,512 | $55,040 | 26.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,522 | $18,264 | $60,880 | 29.7% |
What a typical income covers in McAllen, TX
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $61,579 a year ($5,132 a month before tax).
What $61,579 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 McAllen, TX: common questions
What is the median household income in McAllen, TX?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in McAllen, TX is $61,579 per year (approximately $5,132 per month).
What is the average rent in McAllen, TX?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $842 for a studio, $847 for one bedroom, $1,060 for two, $1,376 for three and $1,522 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 McAllen, TX expensive to live in?
Prices there run 14.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 85.9, 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 McAllen, TX?
To keep a $1,060 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $42,400 a year, or $3,533 a month. That is 69% of what the typical household in McAllen, TX earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in McAllen, TX?
On the local median income of $61,579 ($5,132 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,566 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,539 for everything else and $1,026 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,060 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in McAllen, 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.