Urbandale, IA vs Waterloo, IA

The cost of living difference between Urbandale, IA and Waterloo, IA is dramatic. Waterloo is 34.2% cheaper than Urbandale, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Urbandale has a cost index of 94 while Waterloo sits at 70, 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 Urbandale is $1,176/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 $318,800.

Median household income in Urbandale is $113,086 compared to $56,344 in Waterloo (+100.7%). While Urbandale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Urbandale spend roughly 12.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Waterloo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 49°F). Urbandale receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 36.3" in Waterloo.