Detached garage cost in Brownsville, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (576 sq ft)
- $23,600 – $47,400
- Per sq ft
- $41 – $81.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −18%
- US $43,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #300
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a detached garage in the Brownsville area: $23,600 to $47,400 for 576 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 18% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $17.13 an hour in the Brownsville area, 41% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 576 sq ft in Brownsville, TX, standard level
$30,800 to $40,300
About $53 to $69.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,600 | $23,000 |
| Labor | $13,000 | $17,000 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $340 |
| Total | $30,800 | $40,300 |
Cost breakdown for 576 sq ft in Brownsville, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,500 | $20,300 | $27,000 | 57% |
| Labor | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $280 | $430 | 1% |
| Total | $23,600 | $35,500 | $47,400 | 100% |
Where the Brownsville price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $17.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Brownsville is 0.69 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Brownsville is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $21,600 nationally becomes $20,300 here (midpoint, 576 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 86.0: $130 to $430.
Data note: 25% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Brownsville. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Brownsville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Brownsville. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$23,600 to $33,200
Basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door
Standard
$30,800 to $40,300
Finished exterior, insulated, electrical and a nicer door
Premium
$37,900 to $47,400
Insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $9,900 – $14,000 | $13,000 – $17,000 | $16,000 – $20,000 |
| 2-car (24x24), 576 sq ft | $23,600 – $33,200 | $30,800 – $40,300 | $37,900 – $47,400 |
| 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft | $29,500 – $41,400 | $38,400 – $50,300 | $47,300 – $59,200 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $36,900 – $51,700 | $48,000 – $62,800 | $59,100 – $73,900 |
Related projects, priced for Brownsville
Jobs that often go together with detached garage are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Brownsville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete slab comes out highest (−14%) and home addition lowest (−23%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,500 | −14% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $570 – $3,150 | −15% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,500 | −18% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $29,200 – $59,300 | −23% |
Brownsville against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Brownsville. McAllen comes closest at about $35,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TXthis page | $23,600 – $47,400 | $35,500 | |
| McAllen, TX50 miles | $23,900 – $48,000 | $35,900 | +1% |
| Corpus Christi, TX125 miles | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | +8% |
| Laredo, TX160 miles | $24,200 – $48,500 | $36,400 | +2% |
| San Antonio, TX240 miles | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | +8% |
| Austin, TX285 miles | $26,200 – $52,600 | $39,400 | +11% |
| Texas (statewide) | $26,300 – $52,800 | $39,600 | +11% |
| United States | $29,000 – $58,100 | $43,500 | +22% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Brownsville ranks #300 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Brownsville is 10% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $27,300 – $54,800 | $41,000 | +15% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $26,800 – $53,700 | $40,300 | +13% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $26,200 – $52,600 | $39,400 | +11% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $25,500 – $51,200 | $38,300 | +8% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $24,000 – $48,100 | $36,100 | +1% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $23,900 – $48,000 | $35,900 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Brownsville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $30,600 – $61,500 | $46,000 | +30% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $26,100 – $52,300 | $39,200 | +10% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $25,700 – $51,600 | $38,600 | +9% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $25,900 – $51,900 | $38,900 | +9% |
The best months for detached garage in Brownsville
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Brownsville (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Brownsville are October through April: 7 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in May, June, July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Brownsville gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (5.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 1.1 and 1.0 inches. The station averages about 140 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73 | 53 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 76 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 81 | 62 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 86 | 68 | 1.5 | Workable |
| May | 90 | 74 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Jun | 94 | 77 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 78 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 78 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 75 | 5.7 | Hot |
| Oct | 87 | 69 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 80 | 61 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 74 | 55 | 1.2 | Workable |
Who does the work: Brownsville trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 5 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Brownsville the blend is 0.69.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $17.13 an hour, 41% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $11.25 and $22.26 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 15.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $16.90 an hour, which is 25% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.33 and $18.88 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 29.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) carry 15% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Brownsville metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $22.84 an hour against $27.41 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.53 and $26.73 an hour.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.15 an hour, which is 27% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $17.81 and $27.60 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 28.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Brownsville metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $22.13 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $25.78 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,700 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,950. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 4.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Brownsville-Harlingen has 157,450 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 151st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $11.25 | $17.13 | $22.26 | $29.12 | 0.59 | metro |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 15% | $19.53 | $22.84 | $26.73 | $27.41 | 0.83 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.33 | $16.90 | $18.88 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $17.81 | $22.15 | $27.60 | $30.38 | 0.73 | metro |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.00 | $22.13 | $25.78 | $26.65 | 0.83 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.69 | |||||
Why two Brownsville quotes can differ
Foundation
A slab is cheapest. A frost-depth foundation in cold states costs more.
Garage apartments
A garage with living space is a different project: HomeGuide puts them at $80,000-$300,000.
Permits
You need a permit for a detached garage: $150-$500 on average, with separate electrical or plumbing permits if those are involved.
Get 3 local quotes
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Detached garage in Brownsville: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a detached garage in Brownsville?
For 576 sq ft, expect $23,600 to $47,400 in the Brownsville area. A standard-spec job lands at $30,800 to $40,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for detached garage in Brownsville?
About $41 to $81.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $130 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $50 to $100.
+Is detached garage cheaper in Brownsville or McAllen?
McAllen is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 576 sq ft there is $35,900, which is 1% more than Brownsville ($35,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Brownsville?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $15,000 out of $35,500. Materials are 57% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 2.5-car (24x30), 720 sq ft cost in Brownsville?
$29,500 to $59,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does detached garage need a permit in Brownsville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $430 for fees in the Brownsville area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Brownsville expensive for detached garage compared with the rest of Texas?
Brownsville is 10% below the Texas statewide estimate ($39,600 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Brownsville?
The BLS median is $17.13 an hour in the Brownsville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $11.25 to $22.26.
+What do basic and premium detached garage work cost in Brownsville?
For 576 sq ft, basic work runs $23,600 to $33,200 and premium work $37,900 to $47,400. Basic means: basic shell: slab, framing, siding, a roll-up door. Premium means: insulated and drywalled, heat and cooling, upgraded finishes.
+When is the best time to build a detached garage in Brownsville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. January and February are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Detached garage near Brownsville
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Detached Garage Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Trusscore: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage? 2026 Price Guide (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Angi: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Detached Garage? [2026 Data] (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range / 1.6, because Angi puts professional labor at roughly an additional 60% of the materials cost (materials about 62.5% of the total).