Fort Worth vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Worth
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 14.5% less expensive than Fort Worth overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Worth would need approximately $65,526 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 Fort Worth has the same purchasing power as $65,526 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $85,843 in Fort Worth.
Living in Fort Worth vs Waco
Housing Costs
Fort Worth's housing index of 87 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $270,000 vs $230,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Fort Worth compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Fort Worth and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Fort Worth 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 99 in Fort Worth and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Fort Worth vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Fort Worth and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,187 in Fort Worth and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,460 and $59,639 respectively. Fort Worth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,451/month to housing in Fort Worth vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Fort Worth, median rent of $1,400/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 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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