How much does it cost to rent in Brownsville, TX?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Brownsville, TX is $1,569. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Brownsville cheaper than other Texas cities?

Brownsville falls in the middle range for Texas, ranking #168 out of 269 cities at $1,569/mo.

When was Brownsville rent data last updated?

Brownsville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · TX

Brownsville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Brownsville, TX
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 189,177·168th most expensive in Texas·Rental market data updated monthly for Brownsville, TX

Median rent (all units)

$1,569/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.1%

Month-over-Month

-2.2%

vs US Median

-$396

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Brownsville · $1,569

More affordable than 71% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Brownsville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,569/mo

Expected by trend

$1,649/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Brownsville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$707

1 BR

$800

2 BR

$1,003

3 BR

$1,337

4 BR+

$1,387

Research median

$1,003/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,828/yr

At $1,569/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (up only 1.1% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.1% YoY, -2.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Brownsville, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 24.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

189,177

Median income

$52,130

Median age

31.2

Renters

38.3%

Age distribution

28.4%

25.9%

24.2%

13%

Under 1828.4%

18–3425.9%

35–5424.2%

55–648.5%

65+13%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

31.7%

94%

White31.7%

Hispanic94%

Asian0.8%

Education (25+)

28%

24.3%

23.3%

24.5%

No HS diploma28%

HS diploma24.3%

Some college23.3%

Bachelor's+24.5%

Housing tenure

61.7%

38.3%

Owner61.7%

Renter38.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Brownsville, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,425 → $1,569

up 10.1%

Income

$43,174 → $52,130

up 20.7%

Population

185,849 → 189,177

up 1.8%

Renter share

40.1% → 38.3%

-1.8 pts

Bachelor's+

20.5% → 24.5%

+4.0 pts

The median rent in Brownsville, TX stood at $1,425 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,569, reflecting a 10.1% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $43,174 to $52,130 across the same window, up 20.7% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.8% since 2021, moving from about 185,849 residents to roughly 189,177. Renters now make up 38.3% of households, compared with 40.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 24.5% of adults here, versus 20.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Brownsville, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Brownsville

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View Brownsville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Brownsville on your salary?

At $1,569/mo, how Brownsville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 28.4% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 13.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 10.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 30.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

By apartment size

Brownsville rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Brownsville. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Brownsville

About renting in Brownsville, TX

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Brownsville is $1,569/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $707/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,003/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,337/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($52,130/yr), Brownsville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Brownsville an affordable city for renters?

Brownsville is considered moderate for renters. At $1,569/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($52,130/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Brownsville slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Brownsville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,569/mo in Brownsville. The local median household income is $52,130/yr, meaning the typical Brownsville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Brownsville?

Rent in Brownsville has increased 1.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Brownsville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Brownsville are 78521 ($1,355/mo), 78520 ($1,498/mo), and 78526 ($1,938/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Brownsville is $1,569/mo.

How does Brownsville rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Brownsville is middle-of-the-pack for Texas for rent, ranking #168 out of 269 tracked cities at $1,569/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brownsville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Brownsville ($1,569/mo): Weslaco ($1,094/mo), Harlingen ($1,135/mo), San Juan ($1,324/mo).

What percentage of Brownsville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 38.3% of Brownsville households are renters, while 61.7% are owner-occupied. Brownsville leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Brownsville rent compare to the national average?

Brownsville's median rent of $1,569/mo is $396 (20%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Texas, it ranks #168 out of 269 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $1,569/mo, rent takes ~36% of Brownsville's median household income ($52,130/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Brownsville 36%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Brownsville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities