CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is slightly cheaper than Pittsburgh — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $78,200 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+16.0%
Pittsburgh
72
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries6.9%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Pittsburgh
102.6
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Pittsburgh
92.8
Waco
91.4
Utilities24.8%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 0.9778. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Waco, TX

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

Waco has 16.0% higher housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

Income & Job Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.