Sioux Falls vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Sioux Falls
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 12.0% less expensive than Sioux Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Sioux Falls would need approximately $66,935 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 Falls has the same purchasing power as $66,935 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $84,036 in Sioux Falls.
Living in Sioux Falls vs Waco
Housing Costs
Sioux Falls's housing index of 80 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $265,000 vs $230,000. The $35,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,280 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Sioux Falls and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Sioux Falls 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 94 in Sioux Falls and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Sioux Falls vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Sioux Falls 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 $61,714 in Sioux Falls and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,359 and $59,639 respectively. Sioux Falls residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,440/month to housing in Sioux Falls vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/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 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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