Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waterloo, IA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 53.5% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 95.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 50.8% more expensive than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 137.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$18.28 $18.28
37.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$66.4 $66.4
78.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$9.89 $9.89
39.94%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.24 $5.24
10.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.78 $2.78
6.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.39 $2.39
5.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.13 $6.13
27.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.83 $6.83
14.79%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.01 $1.01
32.67%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$1.94 $1.94
156.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$1.72 $1.72
211.05%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$2.86 $2.86
141.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$9.28 $9.28
167.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$6.7 $6.7
134.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$12.74 $12.74
63.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$3.85 $3.85
57.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.2 $1.2
129.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.32 $3.32
64.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$4.46 $4.46
44.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.12 $1.12
177.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.12 $2.12
74.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.85 $1.85
50.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.53 $1.53
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$7.92 $7.92
46.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$12.01 $12.01
42.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.69 $1.69
73.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.79 $1.79
134.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.97 $1.97
42.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.89 $4.89
-45.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.43 $1.43
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$29.73 $29.73
1.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.77 $0.77
50.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$35.3K $35.3K
-5.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.28%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$197 $197
37.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$48.84 $48.84
26.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$59.4 $59.4
26.59%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$42.83 $42.83
83.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$13.8 $13.8
15.14%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,454 $1,454
54.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$30.5K $30.5K
-4.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$38.76 $38.76
79.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$42.15 $42.15
24.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$58.6 $58.6
103.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$129 $129
10.37%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$842 $842
182.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$747 $747
144.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$1,974 $1,974
138.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$863 $863
302.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$1,457 $1,457
375.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$1,429 $1,429
265.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,529 $3,529
83.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.43
-0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.