CostIndexUSA

Cheyenne, WY vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WY
Cheyenne
96.5
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is moderately cheaper than Cheyenne — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cheyenne, you would need $72,200 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing29.7%
Cheyenne
89.8
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries1.8%
Cheyenne
95.4
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation7.4%
Cheyenne
105.4
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
Cheyenne
95.4
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities+7.3%
Cheyenne
78
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cheyenne to see what you'd need to earn in Waterloo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9026. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cheyenne, WY

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
89.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Waterloo, IA

Median Home Price
$192,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
63.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Cheyenne has 29.7% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Cheyenne, WY

Median Household Income
$75,100
Per Capita Income
$42,800
Unemployment Rate
5.4%
Population
63,957
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Waterloo, IA

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
67,470
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cheyenne, WY
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Waterloo, IA
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.