Waterloo, IA vs Dubuque, IA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Dubuque, IA and Waterloo, IA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Waterloo works out to about $75,200 in Dubuque, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.5% higher in Dubuque, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,063 a month in Dubuque and $1,023 in Waterloo, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $277,000 in Dubuque and $198,000 in Waterloo.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Dubuque was 3.1% less expensive than Waterloo.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Waterloo and Dubuque
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.1 | 87.3 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 63.1 | 64.0 |
| Utilities | 83.7 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| Category | Waterloo | Dubuque | Dubuque vs Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.1 | 87.3 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 63.1 | 64.0 | +1.5% |
| Utilities | 83.7 | 81.2 | −2.9% |
| Other services | 92.9 | 92.9 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,023 | $1,063 | +3.9% |
| Typical home value | $198,000 | $277,000 | +40.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Waterloo | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Waterloo and Dubuque has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.4 | 93.4 |
| 2009 | 90.9 | 92.6 |
| 2010 | 92.3 | 91.7 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 91.3 |
| 2012 | 91.0 | 91.8 |
| 2013 | 92.4 | 92.5 |
| 2014 | 92.2 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 90.4 | 91.3 |
| 2016 | 90.5 | 91.2 |
| 2017 | 90.2 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 90.5 |
| 2019 | 92.8 | 89.9 |
| 2020 | 91.0 | 89.8 |
| 2021 | 89.1 | 88.1 |
| 2022 | 87.9 | 86.4 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 87.1 | 87.3 |
Goods
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 99.4 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 97.8 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 95.8 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 97.5 |
| 2017 | 95.5 | 96.1 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 65.1 | 69.2 |
| 2009 | 68.4 | 67.3 |
| 2010 | 72.7 | 65.3 |
| 2011 | 69.6 | 71.3 |
| 2012 | 69.8 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 76.9 | 72.9 |
| 2014 | 75.5 | 73.2 |
| 2015 | 69.8 | 70.3 |
| 2016 | 71.4 | 69.9 |
| 2017 | 73.0 | 75.0 |
| 2018 | 69.1 | 65.2 |
| 2019 | 72.8 | 62.1 |
| 2020 | 70.0 | 64.9 |
| 2021 | 65.2 | 59.4 |
| 2022 | 66.2 | 61.6 |
| 2023 | 62.2 | 67.8 |
| 2024 | 63.1 | 64.0 |
Utilities
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.5 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 89.3 | 91.3 |
| 2010 | 89.7 | 89.8 |
| 2011 | 88.7 | 90.6 |
| 2012 | 88.8 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 88.7 | 89.9 |
| 2014 | 84.4 | 85.5 |
| 2015 | 83.4 | 83.4 |
| 2016 | 83.0 | 82.6 |
| 2017 | 88.9 | 89.1 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 95.5 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 93.9 |
| 2020 | 97.3 | 94.5 |
| 2021 | 99.3 | 96.9 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 95.2 |
| 2023 | 87.0 | 85.1 |
| 2024 | 83.7 | 81.2 |
Other services
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.2 | 99.5 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 99.0 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 96.1 |
| 2013 | 96.0 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 96.3 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 94.7 |
| 2016 | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 93.1 | 94.8 |
| 2018 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,063 in Dubuque vs $1,023 in Waterloo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $695 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $709 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $698 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $718 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $720 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $730 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $725 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $730 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $738 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $742 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $754 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $743 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $757 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $757 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $772 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $768 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $771 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $774 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $781 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $797 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $814 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $812 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $848 | $795 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $849 | $832 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $847 | $852 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $871 | $858 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $870 | $854 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $882 | $885 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $899 | $927 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $916 | $929 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $919 | $935 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $934 | $965 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $958 | $974 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $955 | $952 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $966 | $983 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $974 | $984 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $983 | $1,022 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $983 | $1,019 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $988 | $990 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,001 | $1,031 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,019 | $1,057 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,023 | $1,063 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $277,000 in Dubuque vs $198,000 in Waterloo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Waterloo, IA
- Dubuque, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Waterloo, IA | Dubuque, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $129K | $156K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $130K | $157K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $158K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $131K | $160K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $132K | $161K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $131K | $162K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $131K | $163K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $131K | $164K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $130K | $166K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $131K | $167K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $131K | $168K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $132K | $170K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $133K | $171K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $134K | $172K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $135K | $174K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $136K | $175K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $138K | $177K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $140K | $181K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $142K | $183K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $144K | $186K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $144K | $187K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $145K | $189K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $147K | $194K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $149K | $199K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $150K | $201K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $153K | $207K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $157K | $213K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $158K | $216K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $163K | $223K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $170K | $233K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $172K | $235K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $173K | $236K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $173K | $236K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $178K | $241K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $181K | $243K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $182K | $242K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $183K | $245K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $187K | $249K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $187K | $250K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $190K | $255K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $194K | $259K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $194K | $261K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $196K | $266K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $198K | $271K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $199K | $275K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $198K | $276K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $198K | $277K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.