Beaumont vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Beaumont
Waco
The Verdict
Beaumont is 6.0% less expensive than Waco overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $79,808 in Waco to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $79,808 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $70,482 in Beaumont.
Living in Beaumont vs Waco
Housing Costs
Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $230,000. The $64,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,164 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $451/month in Waco. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $59,639 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Waco, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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