CostIndexUSA

St. George, UT vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

UT
St. George
97.3
overall index
$1,900/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is moderately cheaper than St. George — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. George, you would need $71,600 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing35.7%
St. George
98.1
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries2.8%
St. George
96.4
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.1%
St. George
103.9
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.1%
St. George
94
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities+7.7%
St. George
77.7
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$71,600
$8,400 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.8952. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. George, UT

Median Home Price
$520,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
98.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

Waterloo, IA

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

St. George has 35.7% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

St. George, UT

Median Household Income
$77,500
Per Capita Income
$44,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
89,587
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismReal EstateRetailConstruction

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).

St. George, UT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.