Odessa, TX vs Waco, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Waco, TX has a modeled overall cost index 2.6% higher than Odessa, TX.

Odessa, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,620 / month
Waco, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,240 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Odessa, TX and Waco, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Odessa, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $33.46/month in Waco, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,598 in Waco, TX

Regional cost estimates: Odessa, TX uses Lubbock, TX. Waco, TX uses Arlington, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 2.6%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$33.46

Savings

Annual Impact

$402

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Odessa, TX

Population:116K

Cost Index:

90.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$238K

Waco, TX

Population:145K

Cost Index:

92.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$241K

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Odessa, TX

The Lone Star State

116K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 116K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Waco, TX

The Lone Star State

145K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 145K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Odessa, TX vs Waco, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Odessa, TX	Waco, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,210/mo	$2,093/mo	↓ $116less	5.3%
Healthcare	$582/mo	$673/mo	↑ $91.02more	15.6%
All Utilities	$537/mo	$599/mo	↑ $61.94more	11.5%
Other	$1,746/mo	$1,692/mo	↓ $53.97less	3.1%
Transportation	$1,409/mo	$1,366/mo	↓ $42.93less	3.0%
Groceries	$1,016/mo	$1,043/mo	↑ $26.96more	2.7%

Housing

↓ 5.3%

Odessa, TX

$2,210

Waco, TX

$2,093

Difference

$116

less

Healthcare

↑ 15.6%

Odessa, TX

$582

Waco, TX

$673

Difference

$91.02

All Utilities

↑ 11.5%

Odessa, TX

$537

Waco, TX

$599

Difference

$61.94

Other

↓ 3.1%

Odessa, TX

$1,746

Waco, TX

$1,692

Difference

$53.97

less

Transportation

↓ 3.0%

Odessa, TX

$1,409

Waco, TX

$1,366

Difference

$42.93

less

Groceries

↑ 2.7%

Odessa, TX

$1,016

Waco, TX

$1,043

Difference

$26.96

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,265

To$850

↓ $415

1 Bed

From$1,290

To$1,000

↓ $290

2 Bed

From$1,620

To$1,240

↓ $380

3 Bed

From$1,940

To$1,600

↓ $340

Odessa, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,530/mo

Waco, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,160/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Odessa, TX

$7,467

Monthly in Waco, TX

$33.46

Difference

Home Values

Odessa

Waco

$238K

Median Value

$241K

↑ +4%

YoY Change

↓ -1.1%

↑ +8%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.7%

$204K - $331K

Price Range

$137K - $296K

Homes in Waco are 1% more expensive than Odessa

Calculate payment - Odessa Calculate payment - Waco

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Odessa, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Waco, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Odessa, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Waco, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Odessa

Waco

23 Good

Air Quality

54 Moderate

92.2%

Good Air Days

35.5%

96 High

Climate Risk

99 High

☀🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

90 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

78 days

Heat Days >95°F

90 days

Before moving from Odessa, TX to Waco, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Waco, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Odessa, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Odessa to Waco moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Waco, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Odessa, TX vs Waco, TX

How do the cost estimates for Odessa, TX and Waco, TX compare?

Waco, TX has a modeled overall cost index 2.6% higher than Odessa, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Odessa, TX, the model estimates $149,598 in Waco, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Odessa, TX and Waco, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,620/month in Odessa, TX and $1,240/month in Waco, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.