CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
TX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Fayetteville is slightly cheaper than Waco — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $81,000 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+8.6%
Fayetteville
76.9
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
93.6
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Fayetteville
100.1
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Fayetteville
90.5
Waco
91.4
Utilities+7.9%
Fayetteville
75.1
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Waco to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 1.0131. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
76.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Waco has 8.6% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Household Income
$77,700
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
93,949
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fayetteville, AR
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.