Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville is at the southernmost point on the mainland of the U.S. (Key West is an island). It sits on the border next to Matamoros, Mexico. The population is majority Mexican-American and the spirit of the city is as much/more Mexican than American. The vibe is also chill and extremely friendly and working class. Most locals speak Spanish and not shockingly the most popular food/restaurant type is Mexican. Newcomers are often turned off by the overwhelming Mexican culture but for locals, there is a warmth and tightness to the city they don’t find elsewhere.

Brownsville has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation and is ranked the 2nd poorest urban area in the U.S. As a port city Brownsville’s economy depends a fair bit on export/import for city revenue. SpaceX became the city’s largest private employer in 2021/2022 following an investment of $430 million on operations and looks to maintain that position for years to come. That could change things for the city but it would be a mistake to move here without a job.

The lifestyle of Brownsville is driven by the traditions of Mexican culture. If you stroll around Brownsville you’ll see countless Mexican “zarapes” (blankets/ponchos), and tons of taquerias, and on the right days of the year, you can experience the Charro Days Fiesta. A four-day festival that celebrates the mixed cultures of the twin cities, attended by 50,000 people from both sides of the border. There’s a parade, dancing, music, fireworks, and amazing Mexican food throughout the event. Some of this energy permeates the culture and lifestyle of Brownsville all year long.

Check out the upcoming happenings in Brownsville if you want to understand the social lifestyle a bit better.

We highly recommend visiting Brownsville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

For most people Brownsville is a culturally interesting port of last resort where they can start over at extremely low costs. If you have a job, say at SpaceX, and are excited to start seriously saving money then Brownsville could make sense for you.