Barrington Hills, IL vs Waterloo, IL

The cost of living difference between Barrington Hills, IL and Waterloo, IL is dramatic. Waterloo is 150.2% cheaper than Barrington Hills, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barrington Hills has a cost index of 198 while Waterloo sits at 79, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Barrington Hills is $3,241/month compared to $873/month in Waterloo — a 271% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $237,900 median vs $781,600.

Median household income in Barrington Hills is $186,667 compared to $92,005 in Waterloo (+102.9%). The higher salaries in Barrington Hills partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Barrington Hills spend roughly 20.8% of their income on rent, more than the 11.4% in Waterloo.