Des Moines, IA vs Waterloo, IA

Waterloo is moderately more affordable than Des Moines, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Des Moines scores 79 compared to 70 for Waterloo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Des Moines can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Des Moines is $1,054/month compared to $896/month in Waterloo — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $150,200 median vs $183,700.

Median household income in Des Moines is $63,966 compared to $56,344 in Waterloo (+13.5%). While Des Moines is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Des Moines spend roughly 19.8% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Waterloo.