McAllen vs Gainesville: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in McAllen, Texas compare to Gainesville, Florida? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: McAllen is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 27% lower in McAllen compared to Gainesville, while rent is 17% lower.
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Gainesville, FL | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $158,700 | $216,600 | -26.7% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 | $1,151 | -17.0% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $43,783 | +28.6% |
| Per Capita Income | $27,533 | $27,414 | same |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.2% | 7.0% | +17.0% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 142,722 | 142,414 | same |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — McAllen
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Gainesville
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in McAllen costs $158,700 compared to $216,600 in Gainesville — a 27% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $955/mo in McAllen vs $1,151/mo in Gainesville.
- Income: Median household income is $56,326 in McAllen and $43,783 in Gainesville.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).