Sioux City vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Sioux City
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 3.6% less expensive than Sioux City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Sioux City would need approximately $72,384 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 Sioux City has the same purchasing power as $72,384 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $77,711 in Sioux City.
Living in Sioux City vs Waco
Housing Costs
Sioux City's housing index of 74 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $182,000 vs $230,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Sioux City compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux City and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux City 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 89 in Sioux City and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Sioux City vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux City 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 $65,500 in Sioux City and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $76,163 and $59,639 respectively. Sioux City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Sioux City vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/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 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases