I don't like their methodology that much. Let's just look at the highest priced thing on the list which is housing.
They put housing costs based on new construction which puts Waco at $402,250 which is not the average house price in McLennan County much less Waco proper. According to Zillow, McLennan County's average value is $256,639 compared to Waco proper's $214,027.
The spot that jumped off the list to me was Denton being ranked higher than Austin. Denton is growing, but it isn't Austin level on prices yet.
Austin (avg home cost): $533,214
Denton (avg home cost): $355,296
There's no way with the biggest budget item having that big of a difference that it's more expensive to live in Denton than Austin.
Noooo evidence for that, babeeyyy, just maaade it up.