Cost of Living: Waco, TX vs Austin, TX

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,516/mo in Waco, TX versus $4,516/mo in Austin, TX. In the model, rent is about 15.99% of gross in Waco, TX versus 24.12% in Austin, TX, so Waco, TX tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Waco, TX
$4,516/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Austin, TX
$4,516/mo
Income level: below
Rent share (1BR) in Waco, TX
15.99%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Austin, TX
24.12%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Waco, TX and Austin, TX.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Waco, TX
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Waco, TX
  • Lower home prices: Waco, TX
  • Higher median household income: Austin, TX

Cost of Living Index

Waco, TX: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Austin, TX: 112.7 (U.S. = 100)

Waco, TX has a lower cost-of-living index than Austin, TX, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Waco, TX: $1,043/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Austin, TX: $1,573/mo

Median rent in Austin, TX is $530/mo higher than in Waco, TX.

Median Home Price

Waco, TX: $199,600 · Austin, TX: $512,700

Median home price in Austin, TX is $313,100 higher than in Waco, TX.

Median Household Income

Waco, TX: $51,468 · Austin, TX: $91,461

Austin, TX has a higher median household income than Waco, TX by $39,993.

Waco, TX overview · Austin, TX overview · Popular comparisons