CostIndexUSA

Ocala, FL vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is moderately cheaper than Ocala — 8.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ocala, you would need $73,200 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing26.8%
Ocala
86.2
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Ocala
96.2
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.0%
Ocala
103.8
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.0%
Ocala
93.9
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities3.9%
Ocala
87.1
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ocala to see what you'd need to earn in Waterloo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$73,200
$6,800 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 95.2) = salary × 0.9149. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Waterloo, IA

Median Home Price
$192,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
63.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Ocala has 26.8% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Waterloo, IA

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
67,470
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Waterloo, IA
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.