San Jose vs McAllen: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in San Jose, California compare to McAllen, Texas? 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 624% higher in San Jose compared to McAllen, while rent is 165% higher. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | San Jose, CA | McAllen, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600 | $158,700 | +624.4% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526 | $955 | +164.5% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 | $56,326 | +141.5% |
| Per Capita Income | $59,913 | $27,533 | +117.6% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 13.3% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.7% | 8.2% | +5.9% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 1,001,176 | 142,722 | +601.5% |
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 — San Jose
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 — 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.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in San Jose costs $1,149,600 compared to $158,700 in McAllen — a 624% premium.
- Rent: Median rent is $2,526/mo in San Jose vs $955/mo in McAllen.
- Income: Median household income is $136,010 in San Jose and $56,326 in McAllen.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while California has a 13.3% rate.
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).