City comparison
Omaha, NE vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Omaha, NE (91.9) and Waco, TX (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Omaha, NE goes as far as $100,700 in Waco, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,148 a month in Omaha, NE versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Omaha, NE and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,670 a year higher in Omaha, NE than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Omaha, NE to Waco, TX ($107,501 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.7% in real buying power.
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Waco, TX: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Omaha, NE | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,695 in Waco | $99,310 in Omaha |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,148/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Omaha, NE-IA and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Omaha | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.4 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 76.4 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Omaha, NE → Waco, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,670/yr.
67 Fair offer
Waco, TX → Omaha, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,670/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Omaha, NE is in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Omaha, NE to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Omaha, NE | Waco, TX | Real change, Omaha → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,339 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,425 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,402 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,501 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,033 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Omaha, NE | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Omaha dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,670 | $59,100 | $58,692 (−6.3%) |
| Software Developers | $125,220 | $123,080 | $122,230 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,030 | $76,140 | $75,614 (−1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,600 | $92,890 | $92,249 (+9.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.