CostIndexUSA

Waco, TX vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
WA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Waco is slightly cheaper than Yakima — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Waco, you would need $82,500 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.1%
Waco
83.5
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+11.9%
Waco
93.8
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Waco
101.1
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Waco
91.4
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+13.5%
Waco
81
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$82,500
$2,500 more needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0313. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Waco, TX

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

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Waco has 13.1% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

Income & Job Market

Waco, TX

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.