City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 20.9% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $120,900 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in San Diego, CA than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Waco, TX ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −17.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.8% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much 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
| San Diego, CA | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $82,717 in Waco | $120,894 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +20.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
100 Strong offer
Waco, TX → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −17.3%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Waco, TX | Real change, San Diego → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | +5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | +5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | +5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | +5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | +5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Waco, TX | Waco pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $59,100 | $71,448 (−26.3%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $123,080 | $148,796 (−8.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $76,140 | $92,048 (−4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $92,890 | $112,298 (−19.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.