City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Ocala, FL are 2.9% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $102,900 in Ocala, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,172 a month in Ocala, FL versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Ocala, FL and 15% in Waco, TX.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in 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 Ocala, FL to Waco, TX changes real buying power by +2.9%, purely from prices.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (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
| Ocala, FL | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,182 in Waco | $102,900 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
78 Strong offer
Waco, TX → Ocala, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 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 Ocala, FL to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Waco, TX | Real change, Ocala → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $59,100 | $60,814 (+5.7%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $123,080 | $126,649 (+12.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $76,140 | $78,348 (+5.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $92,890 | $95,584 (+20.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.