Cost of Living Comparison Between Springfield, OH and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Springfield, OH and Waterloo, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,275 in Springfield, OH versus $1,829 in Waterloo, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,145 in Springfield, OH versus $2,541 in Waterloo, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,016 in Springfield, OH versus $3,253 in Waterloo, IA.

Living in Springfield, OH is roughly 24% more expensive than in Waterloo, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Springfield, OH 70% above, Waterloo, IA 37% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 $14.94

$17.82 $17.82

-16.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 $60.0

$64.9 $64.9

-7.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$10.07 $10.07

10.13%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$5.06 $5.06

-3.16%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$2.71 $2.71

-5.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.38 $2.38

0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.97 $5.97

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$7.12 $7.12

-2.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.03 $1.03

-20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.95 $1.95

14.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.69 $1.69

89.35%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$2.97 $2.97

20.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 $9.10

$9.53 $9.53

-4.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 $10.80

$6.60 $6.60

63.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$12.87 $12.87

11.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.88 $3.88

33.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.19 $1.19

13.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.19 $3.19

77.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$4.31 $4.31

-25.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.18 $1.18

82.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.20 $2.20

21.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.83 $1.83

-2.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.54 $1.54

32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.58 $9.58

$8.14 $8.14

17.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.51 $15.51

$12.74 $12.74

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.69 $1.69

-9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.74 $1.74

25.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.97 $1.97

-48.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.61 $34.61

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$4.94 $4.94

-60.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 $1.38

23.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.23 $34.23

$29.64 $29.64

15.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.80 $0.80

13.75%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$35.3K $35.3K

-4.58%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

-6.75%

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

$240 $240

$197 $197

21.77%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$48.66 $48.66

28.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$58.9 $58.9

11.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.74 $27.74

$42.76 $42.76

-35.13%

Cinema Ticket

$13.77 $13.77

$14.06 $14.06

-2.06%

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

$1,787 $1,787

$1,435 $1,435

24.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.7K $27.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

-6.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.01 $47.01

$39.26 $39.26

19.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.84 $19.84

$42.67 $42.67

-53.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 $70.6

$60.2 $60.2

17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 $71.4

$129 $129

-44.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 $1,108

$846 $846

30.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,092 $1,092

$736 $736

48.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,568 $1,568

$2,010 $2,010

-21.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$837 $837

92.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 $1,625

$1,497 $1,497

8.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,644 $1,644

$1,442 $1,442

14.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,290 $4,290

$3,910 $3,910

9.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.43

1.71%

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

Last update for Springfield, OH: July 13, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,108 in Springfield, OH and $846 in Waterloo, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Springfield, OH pays 10% 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: $60.0 in Springfield, OH vs $65.0 in Waterloo, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $341 vs $281, with Waterloo, IA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Springfield, OH vs Waterloo, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waterloo, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Springfield, OH, 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: $1,108 in Springfield, OH versus $846 in Waterloo, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,787 in Springfield, OH versus $1,435 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 $60.0 in Springfield, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,829 in Waterloo, IA versus $2,275 in Springfield, OH, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Waterloo, IA but tight or insufficient in Springfield, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Waterloo, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Waterloo, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Springfield, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.