| Index | Waterloo | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 100 | 100 |
The cost of living in Waterloo affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Waterloo is 98, which is 2% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
In Waterloo, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Waterloo will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Waterloo affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Waterloo, the median home price is 9.9% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 19.7% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Waterloo boasting a median household income of $104,918, 29% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Waterloo, the groceries index is 3.7% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Waterloo, the utilities index registers 1.5% lower than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Waterloo, the transportation index is 1.9% lower than the national average.
The Waterloo cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $129,889 | $10,824 | $3,031 | $3,897 |
| Renters | $57,180 | $4,765 | $1,334 | $1,716 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Paderborn, IL | 68 | 99 | 1.4% |
| Floraville, IL | 31 | 99 | 1.4% |
| East Carondelet, IL | 330 | 78 | 22.2% |
| Horine, MO | 1,133 | 83 | 17.4% |
| Fults, IL | 21 | 85 | 15.4% |
| Waterloo, IL | 10,746 | 98 | 2.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Little Canada, MN | 10,742 | 109 | 8.7% |
| Frederick, CO | 10,750 | 134 | 34.0% |
| Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, GA | 10,750 | 91 | 9.3% |
| Silverton, OR | 10,750 | 122 | 21.8% |
| Celina, OH | 10,741 | 88 | 11.9% |
| Waterloo, IL | 10,746 | 98 | 2.2% |
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