CostIndexUSA

Montgomery, AL vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
TX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Montgomery is slightly cheaper than Waco — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Montgomery, you would need $82,600 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.9%
Montgomery
64.3
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Montgomery
96.4
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Montgomery
101.5
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Montgomery
91.9
Waco
91.4
Utilities4.6%
Montgomery
84.9
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$82,600
$2,600 more needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 89.7) = salary × 1.0323. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Waco, TX

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

Waco has 29.9% higher housing costs compared to Montgomery.

Income & Job Market

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

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).

Montgomery, AL
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.