Median rent is 42% lower in Waco ($1,098/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Waco, where the median home runs $199,600 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $51,468 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Waco, TX
How much would you need to earn in Waco, TX to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Waco
Texas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Waco — median rent of $1,098/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 42% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $199,600 in Waco — 77% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Waco a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.25% in Texas; Waco has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Waco
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Waco has cleaner air on average: 34.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Waco if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,098/mo median).
Pick Waco if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 34.0).
Pick Waco if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Waco?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Waco?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,098/mo in Waco, TX. Waco, TX has the lower rent by about 42%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Waco?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $51,468 in Waco, TX. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Waco, TX has better air quality on average: 34.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Waco?
Texas has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Waco to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology