What is the cost of living in Waterloo, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waterloo has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Waterloo has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Waterloo ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Waterloo ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Waterloo, check out:
Waterloo Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waterloo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waterloo is 95.
The Groceries index in Waterloo is 96.
The Health index in Waterloo is 70.
The Housing index in Waterloo is 98.
The Transportation index in Waterloo is 95.
The Utilities index in Waterloo is 96.
| Living Expense | Waterloo | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 70 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 94 | 100 |
Waterloo Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Waterloo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waterloo, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Waterloo is $143,280.
The Median Rent in Waterloo is $923.
The Median Income in Waterloo is $57,480.
The Home Value To Income in Waterloo is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waterloo is 0.19x.
Waterloo, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Waterloo Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waterloo Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waterloo Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Waterloo Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Waterloo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waterloo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waterloo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Marion, IA has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Waterloo.
Cedar Falls, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Waterloo.
Central, LA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.2x Waterloo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, IA | 41,896 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Cedar Falls, IA | 40,888 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Marshalltown, IA | 27,626 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Waverly, IA | 10,494 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Hiawatha, IA | 7,206 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Independence, IA | 6,164 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Manchester, IA | 5,191 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 5,038 | 84 | 0.9x |
