Knoxville vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Knoxville
Waco
The Verdict
Living in Waco costs 6.0% less than Knoxville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $70,739 in Waco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Knoxville has the same purchasing power as $70,739 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $79,518 in Knoxville.
Living in Knoxville vs Waco
Housing Costs
Knoxville's housing index of 73 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $240,000 vs $230,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Knoxville compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Knoxville and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Knoxville 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 90 in Knoxville and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Knoxville vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 93 in Knoxville 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 $42,898 in Knoxville and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,748 and $59,639 respectively. Waco residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,001/month to housing in Knoxville vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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