Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waterloo, IA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 73.3% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 139.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 69.6% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 204.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$18.28 $18.28
62.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$66.4 $66.4
117.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$9.89 $9.89
25.68%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.24 $5.24
11.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.78 $2.78
17.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.39 $2.39
7.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$6.13 $6.13
34.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$6.83 $6.83
73.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.01 $1.01
54.46%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$1.94 $1.94
169.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$1.72 $1.72
371.51%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$2.86 $2.86
153.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$9.28 $9.28
84.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$6.7 $6.7
142.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$12.74 $12.74
57.14%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$3.85 $3.85
94.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.2 $1.2
112.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.32 $3.32
75.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.46 $4.46
46.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.12 $1.12
232.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.12 $2.12
83.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.85 $1.85
65.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.53 $1.53
67.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$7.92 $7.92
142.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$12.01 $12.01
48.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.69 $1.69
78.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.79 $1.79
107.82%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.97 $1.97
48.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$4.89 $4.89
4.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.43 $1.43
50.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$29.73 $29.73
39.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.77 $0.77
23.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$35.3K $35.3K
-0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$25.9K $25.9K
6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$197 $197
-9.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$48.84 $48.84
22.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$59.4 $59.4
7.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$42.83 $42.83
228.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$13.8 $13.8
44.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,454 $1,454
120.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$30.5K $30.5K
85.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$38.76 $38.76
69.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$42.15 $42.15
15.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$58.6 $58.6
89.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$129 $129
33.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$842 $842
394.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$747 $747
255.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$1,974 $1,974
326.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$863 $863
511.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$1,457 $1,457
972.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$1,429 $1,429
680.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$3,529 $3,529
59.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.43
0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

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