Stockton vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Stockton
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 37.3% less expensive than Stockton overall. A household earning $75,000 in Stockton would need approximately $54,605 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 Stockton has the same purchasing power as $54,605 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $103,012 in Stockton.
Living in Stockton vs Waco
Housing Costs
Stockton's housing index of 126 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $230,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Stockton compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Stockton and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Stockton 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 108 in Stockton and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Stockton vs $388 in Waco. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Stockton 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 $54,658 in Stockton and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $47,946 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 $1,275/month to housing in Stockton vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Stockton, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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