City comparison
Salem, OR vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 12.0% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $112,000 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Salem, OR to Waco, TX ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −10.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.9% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Salem, OR | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,292 in Waco | $111,992 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
100 Strong offer
Waco, TX → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Waco, TX | Real change, Salem → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $59,100 | $66,188 (−11.5%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $123,080 | $137,840 (+4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $76,140 | $85,271 (−2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $92,890 | $104,030 (−21.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.