Fayetteville vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 8.4% less expensive than Fayetteville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $69,167 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 Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $69,167 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $81,325 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Waco
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $230,000. The $102,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville 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 98 in Fayetteville and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $59,100 in Fayetteville and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $59,639 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,379/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/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 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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