St Cloud vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St Cloud
Waco
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 8.4%, with Waco being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in St Cloud has equivalent purchasing power to $69,167 in Waco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in St Cloud has the same purchasing power as $69,167 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $81,325 in St Cloud.
Living in St Cloud vs Waco
Housing Costs
St Cloud's housing index of 82 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $230,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St Cloud compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in St Cloud and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in St Cloud vs $451/month in Waco. Waco offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in St Cloud and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St Cloud vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in St Cloud 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 $60,200 in St Cloud and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,889 and $59,639 respectively. St Cloud residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,405/month to housing in St Cloud vs $1,155/month in Waco. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/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 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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