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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $1,877 in Waterloo, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $2,558 in Waterloo, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $3,240 in Waterloo, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 89% more expensive than Waterloo, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Waterloo, IA 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$18.23 $18.23

38.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$64.9 $64.9

84.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$9.93 $9.93

38.87%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.21 $5.21

7.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.73 $2.73

9.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.47 $2.47

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.06 $6.06

29.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.84 $6.84

15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.03 $1.03

32.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.85 $1.85

162.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$1.68 $1.68

216.07%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$2.86 $2.86

131.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$9.36 $9.36

161.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$6.36 $6.36

151.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$12.79 $12.79

60.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.69 $3.69

65.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.22 $1.22

136.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.31 $3.31

68.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.48 $4.48

50.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.17 $1.17

173.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.11 $2.11

79.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.91 $1.91

42.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.57 $1.57

66.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$7.91 $7.91

48.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$13.25 $13.25

19.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.76 $1.76

61.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.77 $1.77

147.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$5.05 $5.05

-47.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$29.75 $29.75

0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.6K $32.6K

$36.1K $36.1K

-9.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$264 $264

$202 $202

30.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$48.26 $48.26

25.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$59.8 $59.8

27.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.64 $43.64

78.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$13.97 $13.97

15.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,253 $2,253

$1,453 $1,453

55.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$39.03 $39.03

80.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$42.28 $42.28

22.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$58.3 $58.3

103.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$129 $129

11.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$854 $854

178.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$755 $755

150.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,037 $2,037

133.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$863 $863

315.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,508 $1,508

420.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,481 $1,481

252.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,582 $3,582

79.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $854 in Waterloo, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $65 in Waterloo, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $280 per month, with Waterloo, IA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs Waterloo, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waterloo, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 80% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $854 in Waterloo, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $1,453 in Waterloo, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Waterloo, IA – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,877 in Waterloo, IA versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Waterloo, IA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Waterloo, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Waterloo, IA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Waterloo, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.