CostIndexUSA

Corvallis, OR vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Corvallis
104
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is significantly cheaper than Corvallis — 16.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Corvallis, you would need $67,000 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing44.8%
Corvallis
114.4
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries11.0%
Corvallis
105.3
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Corvallis
105.3
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Corvallis
95.3
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities22.9%
Corvallis
108.6
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$67,000
$13,000 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 104) = salary × 0.8375. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Corvallis, OR

Median Home Price
$542,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
114.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.2×

Waterloo, IA

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

Corvallis has 44.8% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Corvallis, OR

Median Household Income
$73,000
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
58,641
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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).

Corvallis, OR
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.