CostIndexUSA

Pensacola, FL vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Pensacola
97.7
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is moderately cheaper than Pensacola — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pensacola, you would need $75,800 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.5%
Pensacola
98.8
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Pensacola
96.2
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Pensacola
103.8
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Pensacola
93.9
Waco
91.4
Utilities8.5%
Pensacola
88.5
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$75,800
$4,200 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 97.7) = salary × 0.9478. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Home Price
$300,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Waco, TX

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

Pensacola has 15.5% lower housing costs compared to Waco.

Income & Job Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
53,831
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

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).

Pensacola, FL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.