City comparison
Eugene, OR vs McAllen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 18.2% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $118,200 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $847 in McAllen, TX. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 13% in McAllen, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in McAllen, TX.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to McAllen, TX changes real buying power by +18.2%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | McAllen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 85.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $84,569 in McAllen | $118,247 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $847/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $35,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | McAllen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 55.9 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 85.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.2%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
100 Strong offer
McAllen, TX → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to McAllen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | McAllen, TX | Real change, Eugene → McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +18.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +18.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +18.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +18.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +18.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | McAllen, TX | McAllen pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $63,110 | $74,625 (+16.1%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $116,120 | $137,308 (+13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $64,470 | $76,234 (−4.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $80,540 | $95,236 (−16.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.