CostIndexUSA

Waterloo, IA vs Wichita Falls, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
TX
Wichita Falls
89.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Waterloo is slightly cheaper than Wichita Falls — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Waterloo, you would need $82,200 in Wichita Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.1%
Waterloo
63.1
Wichita Falls
68.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Waterloo
93.7
Wichita Falls
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Waterloo
97.6
Wichita Falls
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Waterloo
88.3
Wichita Falls
91.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Waterloo
83.7
Wichita Falls
84.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita Falls, TX
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in Wichita Falls

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 87.1) = salary × 1.0276. 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×

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Home Price
$167,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Wichita Falls has 8.1% 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

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Household Income
$63,500
Per Capita Income
$36,200
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
104,553
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Wichita Falls, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.