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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Cost-of-living indicators for Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

87.1
Overall RPP
#353
of 387 metros
63.1
Rents RPP
$115K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Waterloo costs less than 91% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 87.1, 12.9% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 63.1.

87.1
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#353
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
bottom 9%
by overall cost, nationwide
63.1
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $114,867 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $87,057.

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 vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

87 Top 91% higher than 9% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). This entry sits in this band. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Above this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). Above this entry. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Waterloo cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Waterloo's gap from the national average is led by rents at 63.1. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Waterloo's cost comes from

Metros near Waterloo's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Waterloo is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Waterloo's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Waterloo is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Waterloo's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 9394959697 404550556065 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → WaterlooParkersburgMinotLaredoLafayetteDecaturDubuque
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 59.7). Waterloo is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Waterloo's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

87.1

-12.9 below avg

Goods

93.7

-6.3 below avg

Services

83.7

-16.3 below avg

Rents

63.1

-36.9 below avg

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.

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV 87.1 Minot, ND 87.0 Laredo, TX 87.0 Lafayette, LA 87.2 Decatur, AL 87.2 Dubuque, IA 87.3

Other IA Metros

Des Moines-West Des Moines 91.7 Iowa City 91.5 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 89.1 Cedar Rapids 89.0 Ames 88.8 Dubuque 87.3

View all IA metros →

What this means for Waterloo

How to read Waterloo's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.

  • Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $114,867 in Waterloo. Salary calculator
  • Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 63.1 (36.9% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
  • Local median household income is $68,916; adjusted for Waterloo's price level that is about $79,162 in national-average buying power.
  • Compare Waterloo head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

Cost of Living Guides

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Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

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.

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Data sourced from official public 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.

Federal data behind these figures
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr