CostIndexUSA

Huntington Beach, CA vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Huntington Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is significantly cheaper than Huntington Beach — 18.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntington Beach, you would need $65,200 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing51.0%
Huntington Beach
170.4
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries12.0%
Huntington Beach
106.6
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation7.8%
Huntington Beach
109.6
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare7.8%
Huntington Beach
99.1
Waco
91.4
Utilities48.9%
Huntington Beach
158.6
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$65,200
$14,800 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8151. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Waco, TX

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

Huntington Beach has 51.0% lower housing costs compared to Waco.

Income & Job Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
199,223
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailFinance

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).

Huntington Beach, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.