St. Paul vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Paul
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 20.5% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Paul would need approximately $62,250 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 St. Paul has the same purchasing power as $62,250 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $90,361 in St. Paul.
Living in St. Paul vs Waco
Housing Costs
St. Paul's housing index of 98 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $230,000. The $30,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in St. Paul compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in St. Paul and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in St. Paul 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 St. Paul and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in St. Paul vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in St. Paul and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,718 in St. Paul and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,718 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 $1,347/month to housing in St. Paul vs $1,155/month in Waco. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/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 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases