CostIndexUSA

Little Rock, AR vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
TX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Waco — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $82,900 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.3%
Little Rock
68.3
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Little Rock
93.6
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Little Rock
100.1
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Little Rock
90.5
Waco
91.4
Utilities+8.6%
Little Rock
74.6
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$82,900
$2,900 more needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0358. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Waco, TX

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

Waco has 22.3% higher housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

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).

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.