CostIndexUSA

Visalia, CA vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is moderately cheaper than Visalia — 12.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Visalia, you would need $69,800 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.0%
Visalia
84.1
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries10.9%
Visalia
105.2
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Visalia
105.3
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Visalia
95.3
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities46.5%
Visalia
156.4
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$69,800
$10,200 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 99.8) = salary × 0.8727. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Visalia, CA

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
84.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Waterloo, IA

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

Visalia has 25.0% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Visalia, CA

Median Household Income
$73,100
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Population
141,384
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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).

Visalia, CA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.