CostIndexUSA

Waterloo, IA vs Wenatchee, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
WA
Wenatchee
103.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Waterloo is significantly cheaper than Wenatchee — 19.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Waterloo, you would need $95,400 in Wenatchee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+82.3%
Waterloo
63.1
Wenatchee
115
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
Waterloo
93.7
Wenatchee
105
🚗 Transportation+7.0%
Waterloo
97.6
Wenatchee
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+7.0%
Waterloo
88.3
Wenatchee
94.5
Utilities+20.2%
Waterloo
83.7
Wenatchee
100.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wenatchee, WA
$95,400
$15,400 more needed in Wenatchee

Formula: salary × (103.9 ÷ 87.1) = salary × 1.1929. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Waterloo, IA

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

Wenatchee, WA

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
115
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Wenatchee has 82.3% higher housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Waterloo, IA

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

Wenatchee, WA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
33,621
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Waterloo, IA
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Wenatchee, WA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.