Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Waterloo, IA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,184/mo in Des Moines, IA versus $4,184/mo in Waterloo, IA. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 13.06% in Waterloo, IA, so Waterloo, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Des Moines, IA and Waterloo, IA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Des Moines, IA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Waterloo, IA
- Lower home prices: Waterloo, IA
- Higher median household income: Des Moines, IA
Cost of Living Index
Des Moines, IA: 87.6 (U.S. = 100) · Waterloo, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Des Moines, IA has a lower cost-of-living index than Waterloo, IA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Waterloo, IA: $852/mo
Median rent in Des Moines, IA is $150/mo higher than in Waterloo, IA.
Median Home Price
Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Waterloo, IA: $150,200
Median home price in Des Moines, IA is $33,500 higher than in Waterloo, IA.
Median Household Income
Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Waterloo, IA: $56,344
Des Moines, IA has a higher median household income than Waterloo, IA by $7,622.
Des Moines, IA overview · Waterloo, IA overview · Popular comparisons