Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rio Grande City, Texas
A $113,000 home here costs
$1,140per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $49,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $616. The real number is $524 higher every month, 85% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Starr County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Rio Grande City against Starr County and Texas
| Measure | Rio Grande City | Starr County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,400 | $93,300 |
| Median property tax | $1,354 | $1,047 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.194% | 1.122% |
| Median gross rent | $742 | $715 |
| Population | 15,258 | 65,809 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rio Grande City sits in Starr County, which averages a high of 99.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 45.2°F in its coldest, with 22.47" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4,232 cooling and 796 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Starr County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Starr County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rio Grande City averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Rio Grande City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rio Grande City?
A $113,000 home in Rio Grande City, Texas costs approximately $1,140 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $616 principal and interest, $112 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $94 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rio Grande City?
Rio Grande City has an effective property tax rate of 1.194%, based on a median home value of $113,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,354. That is higher than the Starr County average of 1.122%.
What is the average home price in Rio Grande City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rio Grande City, Texas is $113,400, against $93,300 across Starr County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rio Grande City?
Median gross rent in Rio Grande City is $742 a month, against $1,140 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Rio Grande City?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rio Grande City, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $49,000 a year. That covers the full $1,140 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rio Grande City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Texas.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.