Cedar Falls, IA vs Waterloo, IA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Waterloo is 24.1% cheaper than Cedar Falls. With a cost index of 70 vs 87, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Waterloo to Cedar Falls should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,177/month compared to $896/month in Waterloo — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $150,200 median vs $252,500.

Median household income in Cedar Falls is $74,165 compared to $56,344 in Waterloo (+31.6%). While Cedar Falls is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cedar Falls spend roughly 19% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waterloo.