Orlando vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Orlando
Waco
The Verdict
Living in Waco costs 20.5% less than Orlando. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Orlando, you would need $62,250 in Waco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Orlando has the same purchasing power as $62,250 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $90,361 in Orlando.
Living in Orlando vs Waco
Housing Costs
Orlando's housing index of 104 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $320,000 vs $230,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,650/mo in Orlando compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Orlando and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Orlando vs $451/month in Waco. Waco offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Orlando and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Orlando vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Orlando 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 $48,080 in Orlando and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,080 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 $1,122/month to housing in Orlando vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Orlando, median rent of $1,650/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 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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