Cost of living in Waterloo

In Waterloo, Canada, a family of four typically needs around $4763 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $2095 monthly.

How expensive is Waterloo compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Waterloo is 47% more expensive overall.

How does Waterloo compare to your city?

Waterloo is 9% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Waterloo is, on average, 1% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Waterloo?

Who is Waterloo a good fit for?

Waterloo tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Waterloo so expensive?

The primary driver of high costs in Waterloo is rent and utilities, which significantly exceed typical expenses in other regions.

Is food expensive in Waterloo?

Food costs in Waterloo are 18% higher than the European benchmark, impacting overall living expenses.

Is public transport affordable in Waterloo?

Public transport in Waterloo is 18% lower than the European benchmark, making it a more economical option for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2095 $
Without Rent
741 $
Rent & Utilities
1354 $
Food
561 $
Transport
61 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3936 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
121.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 14.7 $
Dinner 73.4 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 8.89 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.51 $
Capuccino 3.41 $
Coke, 330ml 1.78 $

Compare Waterloo with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.87 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.54 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.71 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.81 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.84 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.2 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.8 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.68 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.31 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.56 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.8 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.01 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.98 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.37 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.95 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 11.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.02 $
Cigarette pack 15.5 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.79 $
Monthly Pass 68.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.15 $
Taxi, 8 km 17.4 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 57.8 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 10.2 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 3.69 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.24 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.03 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 118 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 179 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 54.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,140 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,131 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,345 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,443 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 7,063 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 5,517 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,936 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.88%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 38.7 $
Cinema, 1 seat 13.3 $
Haircut 13.5 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 77.3 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 62.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 908 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 10,419 $

Compare Waterloo with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Waterloo vs George Town (George Town is 74% more expensive)
Bahamas
Waterloo vs Nassau (Nassau is 31% more expensive) Waterloo vs Freeport (Freeport is 5% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Waterloo vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 12% more expensive) Waterloo vs Luganville (Luganville is 46% more expensive)
United States
Waterloo vs New York City (New York City is 93% more expensive) Waterloo vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 52% more expensive) Waterloo vs Chicago (Chicago is 27% more expensive) Waterloo vs Houston (Houston is 7% more expensive) Waterloo vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 13% more expensive) Waterloo vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 21% more expensive) Waterloo vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 5% more expensive) Waterloo vs San Diego (San Diego is 60% more expensive) Waterloo vs Dallas (Dallas is 22% more expensive) Waterloo vs San Jose (San Jose is 75% more expensive)
Canada
Waterloo vs Toronto (Toronto is 23% more expensive) Waterloo vs Montreal (Montreal is 7% less expensive) Waterloo vs Calgary (Calgary is 3% more expensive) Waterloo vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 7% more expensive) Waterloo vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 15% less expensive) Waterloo vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 16% less expensive) Waterloo vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 18% more expensive) Waterloo vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 26% more expensive) Waterloo vs Brampton (Brampton is 2% more expensive) Waterloo vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 3% more expensive)
Barbados
Waterloo vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 35% less expensive) Waterloo vs Holetown (Holetown is 34% less expensive)
Panama
Waterloo vs Panama City (Panama City is 34% less expensive) Waterloo vs Colon (Colon is 44% less expensive) Waterloo vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 41% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 50% less expensive) Waterloo vs David (David is 60% less expensive) Waterloo vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 55% less expensive) Waterloo vs Balboa (Balboa is 40% less expensive) Waterloo vs Pacora (Pacora is 40% less expensive) Waterloo vs Chitre (Chitre is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs Penonome (Penonome is 48% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Waterloo vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 41% less expensive) Waterloo vs Cayon (Cayon is 41% less expensive)
Cuba
Waterloo vs Havana (Havana is 51% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 32% less expensive) Waterloo vs Holguin (Holguin is 39% less expensive) Waterloo vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 27% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 50% less expensive) Waterloo vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 44% less expensive) Waterloo vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 26% less expensive) Waterloo vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 26% less expensive) Waterloo vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 58% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Waterloo vs San Jose (San Jose is 41% less expensive) Waterloo vs Limon (Limon is 43% less expensive) Waterloo vs Liberia (Liberia is 57% less expensive) Waterloo vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 41% less expensive) Waterloo vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 39% less expensive) Waterloo vs Cartago (Cartago is 54% less expensive) Waterloo vs Heredia (Heredia is 41% less expensive) Waterloo vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 19% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 37% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Waterloo vs Castries (Castries is 45% less expensive) Waterloo vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 43% less expensive)
Jamaica
Waterloo vs Kingston (Kingston is 37% less expensive) Waterloo vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 63% less expensive) Waterloo vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 51% less expensive) Waterloo vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 44% less expensive) Waterloo vs May Pen (May Pen is 61% less expensive) Waterloo vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 53% less expensive) Waterloo vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 59% less expensive) Waterloo vs Linstead (Linstead is 50% less expensive) Waterloo vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 46% less expensive) Waterloo vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 45% less expensive)
El Salvador
Waterloo vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 43% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 66% less expensive) Waterloo vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 44% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 45% less expensive) Waterloo vs Apopa (Apopa is 45% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 43% less expensive) Waterloo vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 31% less expensive) Waterloo vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 58% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Waterloo vs St. John's (St. John's is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs All Saints (All Saints is 48% less expensive)
Grenada
Waterloo vs St. George's (St. George's is 49% less expensive) Waterloo vs Grenville (Grenville is 49% less expensive)
Dominica
Waterloo vs Roseau (Roseau is 52% less expensive) Waterloo vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 46% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Waterloo vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 53% less expensive) Waterloo vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 52% less expensive)
Belize
Waterloo vs Belize City (Belize City is 58% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 48% less expensive) Waterloo vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 65% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 36% less expensive) Waterloo vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 25% less expensive)
Guatemala
Waterloo vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 52% less expensive) Waterloo vs Mixco (Mixco is 69% less expensive) Waterloo vs Coban (Coban is 56% less expensive) Waterloo vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 63% less expensive) Waterloo vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 57% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 57% less expensive) Waterloo vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 58% less expensive) Waterloo vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 58% less expensive) Waterloo vs Flores (Flores is 59% less expensive) Waterloo vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 62% less expensive)
Honduras
Waterloo vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 60% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 50% less expensive) Waterloo vs Choloma (Choloma is 71% less expensive) Waterloo vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 69% less expensive) Waterloo vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 58% less expensive) Waterloo vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 59% less expensive) Waterloo vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 66% less expensive) Waterloo vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 66% less expensive) Waterloo vs Yoro (Yoro is 65% less expensive) Waterloo vs La Lima (La Lima is 58% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Waterloo vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 62% less expensive) Waterloo vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 50% less expensive) Waterloo vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 63% less expensive) Waterloo vs Higuey (Higuey is 63% less expensive) Waterloo vs La Vega (La Vega is 73% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 60% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 65% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 75% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 70% less expensive) Waterloo vs Bonao (Bonao is 74% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Waterloo vs Managua (Managua is 63% less expensive) Waterloo vs Leon (Leon is 69% less expensive) Waterloo vs Masaya (Masaya is 66% less expensive) Waterloo vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 74% less expensive) Waterloo vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 70% less expensive) Waterloo vs Esteli (Esteli is 72% less expensive) Waterloo vs Granada (Granada is 67% less expensive) Waterloo vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 78% less expensive) Waterloo vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 68% less expensive) Waterloo vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 58% less expensive)