Water Damage Restoration in Mcallen, TX

This month, Realtor.com released its ranking of the top 10 cities with the lowest cost of living based on the latest regional price parities data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

The regional price parities measure the differences in price levels of goods and services across states and metropolitan areas and are shown as a percentage of the overall national price level, the BEA states.

Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, tells CNBC Make It that it’s no coincidence that most of the cities on the list are in the South and the Midwest.

“A big piece of that is housing. Home prices tend to be lower in the South and the Midwest,” Jones says.

“Markets in the South and the Midwest can expand as demand picks up, which helps keep housing costs low. The price of housing is relatively affordable because of their ability to adapt to demand.”

McAllen, Texas is the U.S. city with the lowest cost of living

McAllen, Texas ranked as the city with the lowest cost of living. It had a 86.92% RPP and the cost of living is 13% lower than the average. For $100 of necessities, residents pay $86.82 and the median home price is $275,000.

The driving force behind McAllen’s No. 1 ranking is the low housing costs in the city, according to Realtor.com. In McAllen, the home price-to-income ratio in McAllen is 4.8, meaning home prices are 4.8 times the median household income.

“McAllen has a lot of space to spread and it has been. There’s been a good amount of investment in the area and that keeps home prices relatively low,” Jones says.

The supply of homes was up 41% year over year in September, she added.

“That says to me that there is ample supply given the demand in McAllen, which keeps the cost of living relatively affordable, especially when it comes to housing.”

McAllen is located on the border between Mexico and the United States and serves as a major hub for tourism and international trade. The area is a haven for people crossing the border and is known for its bicultural community.

The Texas city is famous for its many shopping districts. Many Mexicans cross the border to McAllen just to shop before heading back south, according to the city’s website.

The top 10 U.S. cities with the lowest cost of living

Wichita, Kansas, is the No. 2 city with the lowest cost of living. It had a RPP of 89.16% and the median home price is $292,700.

Jones says the cost of living necessities is also 11% less than the national standard.

“That means that buyers or just residents of the area see both low home prices and low necessity prices,” she added.

Once known as “The Air Capital of the World,” Wichita is the largest city in the state. The Kansas city is the birthplace of White Castle, Pizza Hut, and Koch Industries, the private conglomerate of Charles and David Koch.

Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world’s largest aerostructure manufacturers, is also based in Wichita.

The city also has three universities, including Wichita State University.

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Texas Border Business

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Ground Game Texas (GGT), a statewide grassroots organization, has been instrumental in pushing progressive reforms across various cities in Hidalgo County. Now, the organization has shifted its focus to McAllen, proposing campaign finance reform and the introduction of “direct democracy powers” through a citywide vote. With 4,500 signatures delivered, their goal is to limit individual and business campaign contributions to $500— a significant reduction from the current limits of $10,000 for mayoral candidates and $5,000 for city commissioners.

The movement also aims to implement charter amendments, enabling residents to initiate referendums, recalls, and other direct actions to influence local governance. Ground Game Texas believes that McAllen, the largest city in Hidalgo County, could set an example for broader reform in the region. However, this proposal has sparked debate among city officials, political leaders, and community members. GGT also promotes marijuana decriminalization.

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McAllen Mayor Villalobos: The county would have to run the election for this charter amendment. Based on the current law, anybody can vote anywhere throughout the county. That means somebody from McAllen can vote in Edcouch, Alamo, La Joya, or any polling site. The election department has to have ballots on every polling site in Hidalgo County. We have to share the cost with everybody else for the workers, the locations, the materials, and the machines, which brings our estimated cost to about a quarter of $1 million.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: There have been absolutely no complaints about the current campaign limits. Donors to McAllen candidates generally don’t expect any return other than good government. And they have it. Unlike other municipalities, McAllen’s elected officials are not involved in procurement or hiring. We generally hire good people and let them work.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: We hope and expect that the amendments will still need to be passed. Otherwise, they would have the opposite effect: more PACs would be formed, proxy donors would certainly occur, and true transparency would be lost.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: Campaign reporting in McAllen meets the requirements and ethical standards promulgated by the ethics commission.

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McAllen Mayor Villalobos: The City of McAllen has a representative government. They are elected by the people with the hope that they do what is best for the community. If the people are unhappy with any elected individual, they can vote them out. The power is already there to change governance. As far as a referendum goes, that is dangerous grounds. When a commission makes decisions, they are informed, studied, and recommended by staff who have vetted and done whatever is necessary to make the best decisions. Having the electorate try to make uninformed decisions is very dangerous and detrimental to our community.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: Campaign reform in McAllen is optional at this time. There have been no complaints; if a system is not broken, there is no reason to fix it.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: I could think of hundreds of detrimental things that could happen but are not happening. The issue is not present, and there is no reason to address it.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: A candidate would have to spend more time fundraising than spreading the message as to why he/she would be the best candidate. Without sufficient funding, the candidate would not be able to inform, and the electorate would not make an informed vote. This would have the reverse effect of what GGT suggests.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: Alternatives are currently not necessary.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: I see McAllen as a model city for others to follow. Ethics and governance are second to none. The Valley generally goes as McAllen does; in this situation, we hope that all our region goes against the ideals of GGT.

McAllen Mayor Villalobos: A government entity is required to pay for its elections. The McAllen taxpayers will have to pay almost a quarter of a million dollars for this unnecessary, unbudgeted, and ridiculous civic experiment.

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What is the best internet provider in McAllen?

Spectrum is the best internet service provider overall for most households in McAllen because of its wide coverage. AT&T Fiber or Verizon 5G Home Internet are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area. Also, keep an eye out for Vexus Fiber and Austin Fiber Optics, two ISPs that are expanding in McAllen.

If you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, we’ve also got that info. The cheapest internet in McAllen is Vexus Fiber which costs $35 per month for 150Mbps speeds. The fastest internet speed in McAllen comes from AT&T Fiber and Vexus Fiber, which offer 5,000Mbps plans but with very limited availability across town.

Best internet in McAllen, Texas

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in McAllen

Cheap internet options in McAllen

You won’t find much in the way of dirt-cheap internet in McAllen. Expect to pony up around $50 monthly for an entry-level plan from any major ISP. Spectrum will give you 300Mbps download speeds and Vexus charges $40 per month (but tacks on a $10-per-month network access fee) for 150Mbps symmetrical speeds. AT&T Fiber comes in with 300Mbps symmetrical for $55 per month. You may be able to squeeze a better deal out of Spectrum if you also have a fiber competitor at your home, but you’ll need to talk with Spectrum about that (and sharpen your negotiating skills). One way to lower your home internet bill is to check into bundling a phone plan with T-Mobile or Verizon’s 5G home internet service. With Verizon, you can knock your home internet bill down to as low as $35 per month.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in McAllen

The best internet deals and top promotions in McAllen depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

McAllen internet providers, such as Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet and Vexus Fiber, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is McAllen broadband?

McAllen delivered a nearly 298Mbps median fixed internet download speed in a recent Ookla speed test report. That reflects the widespread availability of Spectrum’s 300Mbps plan all over town. McAllen’s speeds are right in line with those of nearby Rio Grande Valley communities. It beats the Texas overall state average of about 269Mbps. Spectrum tops out at a gig for download speeds. Multi-gig plans are harder to find but look to AT&T Fiber or Vexus Fiber if they reach your address. The growth of Vexus will bring faster speeds to more residents.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in McAllen

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in McAllen?

ISP availability is key in McAllen. If the fiber providers don’t reach your home, Spectrum is your best bet for solid speeds. Alternatively, look into Verizon or T-Mobile’s 5G home internet services, especially if you can bundle with a phone plan for savings. If you’re fortunate to have fiber, give weight to that option. You’ll get much faster uploads and the potential for speeds up to 5,000Mbps from AT&T Fiber or Vexus. Fiber expansion by Vexus will change the home internet landscape in McAllen, but it takes time to build out a new network.

Internet providers in McAllen FAQs

What is the cheapest internet provider in McAllen?

Expect to pay around $50 per month for internet in McAllen at most starting rates. But Vexus Fiber's 150Mbps plan offers the cheapest plan in the area at $35.

Which internet provider in McAllen offers the fastest plan?

Though fiber availability is limited in McAllen, both AT&T Fiber and Vexus Fiber offer 5,000Mbps plans with symmetrical speeds. Vexus is actively expanding its fiber network in the city. Austin Fiber Optics is also working on reaching homes in McAllen.

Is fiber internet available in McAllen?

There’s a small amount of fiber availability in McAllen from AT&T Fiber and Vexus Fiber. Vexus has embarked on an ambitious plan to wire up the town with fiber, so expect symmetrical speeds to reach more addresses soon. Austin Fiber Optics is a local ISP that works with school districts and businesses. It recently moved into residential internet with plans to service parts of McAllen.