Uprootmap
Iowa City vs Waterloo
Iowa City and Waterloo
Photo: Stephen Cummings / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Waterloo are under the US rate in this release, 5.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Iowa City to Waterloo
In 2022-2023, 63 households filed a move from Iowa City to Waterloo (about 80 people, average adjusted gross income $49,667). 80 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $911 in Iowa City and $788 in Waterloo. Iowa City has a state tax on wages. Waterloo has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Waterloo is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Iowa City.
Waterloo averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 17°F. Iowa City is 207 sunny days, 82°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 17 minutes in Waterloo and 20 in Iowa City.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 63 households moved Iowa City → Waterloo (about 80 people, average AGI $49,667). 80 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Iowa City and Waterloo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 99 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Waterloo
Questions
Is Waterloo cheaper than Iowa City after tax and rent?
Yes. Waterloo leaves about $24 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $788 in Waterloo.
Does Waterloo have state income tax?
Waterloo is in Iowa, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Iowa City to Waterloo?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.