Dubuque, IA vs Waterloo, IA

Waterloo is moderately more affordable than Dubuque, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Dubuque scores 76 compared to 70 for Waterloo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Dubuque can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Dubuque is $943/month compared to $896/month in Waterloo — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterloo is more affordable at $150,200 median vs $193,100.

Median household income in Dubuque is $64,985 compared to $56,344 in Waterloo (+15.3%). While Dubuque is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dubuque spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waterloo.