City comparison
Santa Maria, CA vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 17.6% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $117,600 in Santa Maria, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,746 a month in Santa Maria, CA versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 44% of take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Santa Maria, CA than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −14.2% moving from Santa Maria, CA to Waco, TX ($124,085 → $106,437), while prices change by −14.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.8% in real buying power.
- Santa Maria, CA: price level 108.8 (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
| Santa Maria, CA | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.8 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $85,066 in Waco | $117,556 in Santa Maria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,746/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 | 44% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,690 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Santa Maria | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.4 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 108.8 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Santa Maria, CA → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
100 Strong offer
Waco, TX → Santa Maria, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.9%; rent takes 44% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
8 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Santa Maria, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Santa Maria, CA to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Santa Maria, CA | Waco, TX | Real change, Santa Maria → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $61,722 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $74,678 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $89,508 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $106,437 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $125,776 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Santa Maria, CA | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Santa Maria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | $59,100 | $69,476 (−31.2%) |
| Software Developers | $158,290 | $123,080 | $144,688 (−8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $91,610 | $76,140 | $89,507 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $137,360 | $92,890 | $109,198 (−20.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.