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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Waterloo, IA is 34.9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 48.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Waterloo, IA is 33.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 57.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$25.11 $25.11
-27.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.4 $66.4
$118 $118
-43.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$13.84 $13.84
-28.54%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$5.8 $5.8
-9.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.95 $2.95
-5.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.51 $2.51
-4.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$7.81 $7.81
-21.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$7.84 $7.84
-12.88%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.34 $1.34
-24.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.98 $4.98
-61.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$5.35 $5.35
-67.85%
Eggs
$2.86 $2.86
$6.91 $6.91
-58.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 $9.28
$24.8 $24.8
-62.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.7 $6.7
$15.74 $15.74
-57.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.74 $12.74
$20.84 $20.84
-38.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$6.05 $6.05
-36.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.2 $1.2
$2.75 $2.75
-56.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$5.47 $5.47
-39.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$6.45 $6.45
-30.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$3.11 $3.11
-63.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$3.69 $3.69
-42.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.78 $2.78
-33.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.52 $2.52
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92 $7.92
$11.64 $11.64
-31.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.01 $12.01
$17.15 $17.15
-29.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.94 $2.94
-42.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$4.19 $4.19
-57.28%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.8 $2.8
-29.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$101 $101
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 $4.89
$2.68 $2.68
82.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.65 $1.65
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.73 $29.73
$30.13 $30.13
-1.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.16 $1.16
-33.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$33.3K $33.3K
5.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.3K $26.3K
-1.27%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$271 $271
-27.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.84 $48.84
$61.8 $61.8
-21.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$75.2 $75.2
-21.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 $42.83
$78.4 $78.4
-45.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.8 $13.8
$15.89 $15.89
-13.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,454 $1,454
$2,248 $2,248
-35.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$29K $29K
4.96%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.76 $38.76
$69.5 $69.5
-44.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.15 $42.15
$52.5 $52.5
-19.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.6 $58.6
$120 $120
-50.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$142 $142
-9.40%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$842 $842
$2,376 $2,376
-64.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 $747
$1,829 $1,829
-59.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,974 $1,974
$4,702 $4,702
-58.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 $863
$3,474 $3,474
-75.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 $1,457
$6,928 $6,928
-78.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,429 $1,429
$5,224 $5,224
-72.64%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Waterloo, IA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,529 $3,529
$6,473 $6,473
-45.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.42
0.16%

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

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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