What it actually costs to live in McAllen right now.

The numbers

Apartment List, which we use for most cities, did not publish McAllen figures we could read this month. We show RentCafe averages for large managed buildings and Zillow averages across all listed rentals instead. Zillow’s sample includes houses, which is why its overall average is higher.

We could not confirm the City of McAllen’s adopted rate for 2025 or 2026, or Hidalgo County’s rate after FY 2025, so the table shows the latest official figures we found. A McAllen homeowner also pays South Texas College, Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 and South Texas ISD rates, which are still being checked. Census 2025 ACS figures came out Oct 29, 2026 and will be added once checked.

Living next to the border

McAllen’s economy runs in both directions across the border. The city estimates that shoppers from Mexico make up as much as 30% of the local economy, and in February 2026 it received a record $12.6 million sales tax allocation, up 5.31% from a year earlier. What that means for residents:

• The city calls itself a retail draw for South Texas and northern Mexico, so expect busy malls and big-box stores, especially around holidays.
• Sales tax is a big part of city revenue, so cross-border shopping trends matter to the city budget, and over time to local taxes and fees.
• Metro McAllen runs a Bridge Route; check the schedule for stops and times. A free downtown circulator runs Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• About 25.4% of city residents were born outside the U.S. (2024 ACS).

Hidalgo County is not one of the 14 coastal counties covered by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TDI), so most homes need only a standard homeowners policy. Neighboring Cameron and Willacy counties are on the list. See Texas insurance.

Out-of-date numbers you’ll still find online

Same everywhere in Texas

McAllen is in the ERCOT market with retail choice: you pick a plan, and AEP Texas Central adds its delivery charge (see Texas electricity). No state income tax, the 8.25% sales tax ceiling, the $140,000 homestead exemption and vehicle fees are on Texas taxes and pay and the Texas overview. Compare McAllen with Corpus Christi, San Antonio and others on the comparison page, and see moving to Texas for first-month costs.

How we check

Every figure links to its source and shows the date it applies to. We prefer the agency that produces the number, and we label anything from a marketplace, aggregator or news report. McAllen has fewer official sources online than the big metros, so a few rows here use local news; we will replace them as primary documents turn up. BEA’s 2025 price levels are due Dec 10, 2026. Read the full methodology.