McAllen, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for McAllen, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in McAllen →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 142,722, McAllen, Texas sits below the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $56,326 per year (-22% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in McAllen run a median $158,700, below the benchmark across cities in our dataset (-51%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $955. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
With home values running about 2.8× median income, McAllen lands on the affordable side of the housing-cost spectrum. Year-over-year, home values around McAllen are up 4.1%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Climate and natural-hazard risk in McAllen runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $955/mo in McAllen would take 20.3% of your income.
$453/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($158,700) would take 18.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$467/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in McAllen
Median home value is $158,700 and median gross rent is $955/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Hidalgo rose 4.1% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,060/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates McAllen's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
McAllen reported a violent crime rate of 126.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to McAllen
Planning a move to McAllen? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in McAllen, TX?
- For a quick read on McAllen: homes carry a median value of $158,700, rent runs a median $955 monthly, and household income is a median $56,326, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in McAllen?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording McAllen's median rent of $955/month takes an income of roughly $38,200 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for McAllen.
- Is it better to rent or buy in McAllen?
- McAllen's median rent of $955/month translates to about $38,200 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $36,310 a year for principal and interest on the $158,700 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is McAllen safe?
- In 2025, McAllen reported 126.3 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for McAllen →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of McAllen's.