City comparison
Utica, NY vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Utica, NY (92.7) and Waco, TX (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Utica, NY goes as far as $99,900 in Waco, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $996 a month in Waco, TX versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Waco, TX and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Waco, TX.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Utica, NY to Waco, TX changes real buying power by +0.1%, purely from prices.
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (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
| Utica, NY | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,862 in Waco | $100,138 in Utica |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,970 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Utica-Rome, NY MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Utica-Rome, NY and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Utica | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 66.1 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 131.9 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Utica, NY → Waco, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
69 Fair offer
Waco, TX → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Utica, NY to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Utica, NY | Waco, TX | Real change, Utica → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Utica, NY | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Utica dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,010 | $59,100 | $59,182 (−23.2%) |
| Software Developers | $113,390 | $123,080 | $123,250 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,830 | $76,140 | $76,245 (−4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $94,300 | $92,890 | $93,018 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.