Cost of Living in McAllen
The cost of living in McAllen ranks consistently below the national average and is the lowest in the state of Texas primarily because of low housing prices, according to first quarter figures from the ACCRA Cost of Living Index and local analysts. McAllen was ranked highest in the Nation for affordable homes in Money Magazine 2006. The following table provides comparisons between McAllen and other U.S. cities:
| Cost of Living Index |
| MSA |
Composite |
Food |
Housing |
Utilities |
Trans |
Health |
Misc |
| McAllen TX |
84.4 |
83.4 |
69.3 |
79.3 |
95.1 |
97.5 |
93.8 |
| Brownsville TX |
88.4 |
86.4 |
72.6 |
105.6 |
101.1 |
94.1 |
92.7 |
| El Paso TX |
93.7 |
115.9 |
77.6 |
91.6 |
98.2 |
104.4 |
96.3 |
| Dallas TX |
91.8 |
96.1 |
74.7 |
100.4 |
101.7 |
98.8 |
97.8 |
| Atlanta GA |
95.6 |
99.1 |
92.0 |
85.9 |
100.4 |
105.2 |
97.4 |
| Richmond VA |
108.3 |
98.2 |
115.6 |
105.2 |
105.4 |
110.7 |
107.8 |
| Indianapolis IN |
97.6 |
101.4 |
99.9 |
97.8 |
99.2 |
95.1 |
94.1 |
| Phoenix AZ |
102.5 |
98.4 |
107.2 |
94.3 |
103.6 |
100.5 |
102.5 |
| St. Louis MO |
98.0 |
112.7 |
93.1 |
101.9 |
94.1 |
96.1 |
96.8 |
| Denver CO |
103.4 |
103.5 |
107.9 |
102.3 |
99.2 |
107.5 |
100.7 |
| Las Vegas NV |
109.4 |
99.6 |
126.5 |
111.6 |
114.0 |
105.9 |
97.8 |
| San Francisco CA |
172.9 |
144.1 |
274.3 |
89.1 |
122.4 |
126.9 |
146.3 |
| New York NY |
214.7 |
152.5 |
394.0 |
151.2 |
128.2 |
131.0 |
146.7 |
| Source: http://www.accra.org |
- McAllen, Texas has the lowest cost of living in Texas
(ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2006)
- #5 Least Expensive Place to Live in the Nation
(ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2007)
- McAllen, Texas is the #5 Best Place to Buy a Home in the Nation
(Business 2.0 Magazine)
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