Virginia Beach vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Virginia Beach
Waco
The Verdict
Waco is 26.5% less expensive than Virginia Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Virginia Beach would need approximately $59,286 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 Virginia Beach has the same purchasing power as $59,286 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $94,880 in Virginia Beach.
Living in Virginia Beach vs Waco
Housing Costs
Virginia Beach's housing index of 112 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $230,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Virginia Beach and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Virginia Beach 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 98 in Virginia Beach and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Virginia Beach vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Virginia Beach 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 $73,418 in Virginia Beach and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,922 and $59,639 respectively. Virginia Beach residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,713/month to housing in Virginia Beach vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/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 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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