St. Louis vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Waco
The Verdict
Living in Waco costs 8.4% less than St. Louis. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in St. Louis, you would need $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. Louis has the same purchasing power as $69,167 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $81,325 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Waco
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $230,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis 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 95 in St. Louis and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis 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 $45,782 in St. Louis and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 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 $1,068/month to housing in St. Louis vs $1,155/month in Waco. In St. Louis, 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 Transportation, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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