Cost of Living in Waco, TX
Waco, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Waco, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Waco, TX?
With a price level of 92.5 (U.S. average = 100), Waco, TX is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 16% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 19% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Waco, TX vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | −7.5% |
| Housing | 83.5 | −16.5% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 81.0 | −19.0% |
| Other services | 96.2 | −3.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Waco, TX
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $829 | $33,160/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $966 | $38,640/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,208 | $48,320/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,565 | $62,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,621 | $64,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Waco, TX
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Waco, TX | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,000 | $31,910 |
| $60,000 | $55,500 | $46,774 |
| $80,000 | $74,000 | $60,889 |
| $100,000 | $92,600 | $73,974 |
| $150,000 | $138,800 | $106,136 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Texas 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Waco, TX's median wage of $46,020 takes home about $3,263 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $966, which is 30% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,297 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Waco, TX
- Federal income tax$3,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,853
- Medicare (1.45%)$667
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,157
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Waco, TX
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $92,990 | $74,248 | $80,225 |
| Registered Nurse | $92,890 | $74,178 | $80,149 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,810 | $33,364 | $36,050 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,500 | $32,311 | $34,912 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,810 | $26,132 | $28,236 |
| Cashier | $28,610 | $25,168 | $27,194 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,750 | $24,462 | $26,431 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Texas cities
Half of Texas’s 14,071,160 workers earn less than $48,620 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,370–$77,840 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Austin, TX stretches a paycheck furthest, while McAllen, TX is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | $51,440 | 103.1 | $1,586 | 44% | $2,040 | $42,208 |
| Houston, TX | $49,410 | 98.6 | $1,316 | 38% | $2,174 | $42,463 |
| Austin, TX | $56,950 | 98.1 | $1,562 | 39% | $2,433 | $48,885 |
| San Antonio, TX | $47,010 | 94.7 | $1,171 | 35% | $2,158 | $42,181 |
| El Paso, TX | $39,510 | 89.9 | $1,012 | 36% | $1,815 | $37,733 |
| McAllen, TX | $35,830 | 85.9 | $847 | 33% | $1,734 | $36,055 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $45,350 | 92.7 | $1,115 | 35% | $2,103 | $41,673 |
| Lubbock, TX | $42,130 | 91.3 | $974 | 32% | $2,029 | $39,458 |
| Beaumont, TX | $48,630 | 90.0 | $898 | 26% | $2,540 | $45,815 |
| Brownsville, TX | $36,490 | 86.0 | $866 | 33% | $1,759 | $36,638 |
| Killeen, TX | $46,660 | 91.1 | $982 | 30% | $2,324 | $43,532 |
| College Station, TX | $44,470 | 91.0 | $1,082 | 34% | $2,077 | $41,684 |
| Waco, TX | $46,020 | 92.5 | $966 | 30% | $2,297 | $42,309 |
| Amarillo, TX | $44,580 | 91.8 | $903 | 29% | $2,264 | $41,385 |
| Midland, TX | $54,480 | 95.8 | $1,449 | 38% | $2,381 | $47,978 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Waco, TX vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | 92.5 | $966 | $46,020 | 129,860 |
| Kennewick, WA | 100.1 | $1,268 | $57,290 | 129,490 |
| Olympia, WA | 103.7 | $1,682 | $61,960 | 130,300 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 92.0 | $1,065 | $45,620 | 131,430 |
| South Bend, IN | 92.9 | $1,073 | $46,540 | 131,670 |
| Elkhart, IN | 90.3 | $992 | $48,070 | 127,730 |
| Norwich, CT | 100.4 | $1,496 | $57,370 | 126,450 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Waco, TX expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Waco, TX metro area are 92.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 83.5%. It is the #229 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Waco, TX?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,530 in Waco, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,020.
Can you afford Waco, TX on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,020 median wage takes home about $3,263 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $966 would take 30% of that.
How much is rent in Waco, TX?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Waco, TX are $829 for a studio, $966 for one bedroom, $1,208 for two bedrooms and $1,565 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Waco, TX
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $92,990
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $92,890
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,750
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,810
- Cashier — $28,610
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $38,810
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,500