CostIndexUSA

Killeen, TX vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Killeen
91.1
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is slightly cheaper than Killeen — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Killeen, you would need $76,500 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.0%
Killeen
77.9
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Killeen
93.8
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.5%
Killeen
101.1
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare3.4%
Killeen
91.4
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities+3.1%
Killeen
81.2
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 91.1) = salary × 0.9561. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Killeen, TX

Median Home Price
$247,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Waterloo, IA

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

Killeen has 19.0% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Killeen, TX

Median Household Income
$71,000
Per Capita Income
$40,500
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
154,823
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

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).

Killeen, TX
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.