City comparison
Visalia, CA vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 7.9% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $107,900 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,123 a month in Visalia, CA versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Visalia, CA and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Visalia, CA to Waco, TX ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.3% in real buying power.
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
- 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
| Visalia, CA | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.8 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,712 in Waco | $107,861 in Visalia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/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 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,130 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Visalia, CA MSA and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Visalia, CA and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Visalia | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.1 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 99.8 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Visalia, CA → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
93 Strong offer
Waco, TX → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Visalia, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Visalia, CA to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Visalia, CA | Waco, TX | Real change, Visalia → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +7.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +7.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +7.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +7.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +7.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Visalia, CA | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Visalia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,430 | $59,100 | $63,746 (−35.2%) |
| Software Developers | $126,170 | $123,080 | $132,755 (+5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,400 | $76,140 | $82,125 (+3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,180 | $92,890 | $100,192 (−20.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.