CostIndexUSA

Evansville, IN vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Evansville
91.5
overall index
$1,050/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is slightly cheaper than Evansville — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Evansville, you would need $76,200 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.4%
Evansville
66.7
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Evansville
94.3
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.2%
Evansville
104.1
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.3%
Evansville
94.2
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities3.5%
Evansville
86.7
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$76,200
$3,800 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9519. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Evansville, IN

Median Home Price
$214,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Housing Index
66.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Waterloo, IA

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

Evansville has 5.4% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Evansville, IN

Median Household Income
$65,100
Per Capita Income
$37,100
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
118,414
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailEducation

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).

Evansville, IN
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.