CostIndexUSA

Provo, UT vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

UT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is moderately cheaper than Provo — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Provo, you would need $75,400 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.8%
Provo
104.1
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Provo
96.4
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Provo
103.9
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
Provo
94
Waco
91.4
Utilities+3.1%
Provo
78.6
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9430. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$534,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.4×

Waco, TX

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

Provo has 19.8% lower housing costs compared to Waco.

Income & Job Market

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$100,800
Per Capita Income
$57,500
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

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).

Provo, UT
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.