City Comparison

Brownsville vs Colorado Springs

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brownsville

Texas
75
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$52,100
Median Income

Colorado Springs

Colorado
105
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$64,712
Median Income

The Verdict

28.6%

Brownsville is 28.6% less expensive than Colorado Springs overall. A household earning $75,000 in Brownsville would need approximately $105,000 in Colorado Springs to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
58
Brownsville
115
Colorado Springs
Groceries
87
Brownsville
100
Colorado Springs
Utilities
79
Brownsville
93
Colorado Springs
Transportation
84
Brownsville
101
Colorado Springs
Healthcare
92
Brownsville
104
Colorado Springs

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brownsville has the same purchasing power as $105,000 in Colorado Springs.

Conversely, $75,000 in Colorado Springs equals $53,571 in Brownsville.

Living in Brownsville vs Colorado Springs

Housing Costs

Brownsville's housing index of 58 is lower Colorado Springs's 115, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $380,000. The $225,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,628 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Brownsville compared to $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 87 in Brownsville and 100 in Colorado Springs. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $413/month in Brownsville vs $475/month in Colorado Springs. Brownsville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 79 in Brownsville and 93 in Colorado Springs. Monthly utility bills average approximately $316 in Brownsville vs $372 in Colorado Springs. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Brownsville and 104 in Colorado Springs. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $52,100 in Brownsville and $64,712 in Colorado Springs. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,467 and $61,630 respectively. Brownsville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,216/month to housing in Brownsville vs $1,510/month in Colorado Springs. In Brownsville, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Colorado Springs, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brownsville is 28.6% more affordable overall with an index of 75 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Brownsville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $105,000 in Colorado Springs, based on the cost of living difference.
Brownsville's housing index is 58 with median homes at $155,000, while Colorado Springs's is 115 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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