Overall
87.1
-12.9 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Cost-of-living indicators for Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 47940 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #353 of 387
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has a cost of living index of 87.1, meaning it's 12.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 6.3% less, services 16.3% less, and rents are 36.9% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $114,867 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Waterloo
Waterloo ranks #353 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 87.1, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is 12.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Waterloo's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 63.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $114,867 inside Waterloo, while a household needs roughly $87,057 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 63.1 — 36.9% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Waterloo's overall index has fallen by 3.3 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.7 and services at 83.7, meaning everyday spending in Waterloo is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Waterloo Cost Index at a Glance
Waterloo all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Waterloo category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Services
83.7
-16.3 below avg
Rents
63.1
-36.9 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 87.1 (-12.9 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 93.7 (-6.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 83.7 (-16.3 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 63.1 (-36.9 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Below National Average
Rents -36.9% (63.1)
Services -16.3% (83.7)
Overall -12.9% (87.1)
Goods -6.3% (93.7)
Income Adequacy in Waterloo
Waterloo income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 87.1
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$87,057
in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$43,529
$75,000 nationally
$65,293
$125,000 nationally
$108,821
$150,000 nationally
$130,586
$200,000 nationally
$174,114
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.3 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 90.9 |
| 2010 | 92.3 |
| 2011 | 90.4 |
| 2012 | 91.0 |
| 2013 | 92.4 |
| 2014 | 92.2 |
| 2015 | 90.4 |
| 2016 | 90.5 |
| 2017 | 90.2 |
| 2018 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 92.8 |
| 2020 | 91.0 |
| 2021 | 89.1 |
| 2022 | 87.9 |
| 2023 | 88.0 |
| 2024 | 87.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA's index of 87.1.
Other IA Metros
Related Data for Waterloo
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Waterloo area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Waterloo metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Waterloo
School Districts
NCES school data for Waterloo area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Waterloo area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA? ▼
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 87.1, meaning it is 12.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.7, services at 83.7, and rents at 63.1. It ranks #353 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $87,057 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. Conversely, $100K earned in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has the purchasing power of $114,867 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA? ▼
Rents in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA are indexed at 63.1, which is 36.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA's overall cost index changed by -3.3 points (from 90.4 to 87.1). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Parkersburg-Vienna, Minot, Laredo. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA's 87.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
