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Rental Market Trends in Waterloo, IA

What is the average rent in Waterloo, IA?

$797/month

Average Rent

588 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+1.2%

Increase in the Last Year

Waterloo, IA Rental Market Overview

The average rent in Waterloo, IA is $797 per month. This is 52% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/month, making renting in Waterloo more affordable than most cities in the US.

  • Studio apartments in Waterloo average $803 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Waterloo average $797 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Waterloo average $927 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Waterloo average $1,096 or more per month.

Data Updated: June, 2026

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$803/month
268 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$797/month
588 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$927/month
876 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,096/month
1,072 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$635/month
586 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,010/month
795 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,146/month
869 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$1,632/month
1,171 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,020/month
696 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Waterloo, IA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 1.2%, which averages out to $10 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated June 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Waterloo, IA
Last Updated June 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Waterloo, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
33% Below $700/month
47% $700 - $1,000/month
14% $1,001 - $1,500/month
6% $1,501 - $2,000/month
0% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Waterloo?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Waterloo is the most affordable neighborhood in Waterloo.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Waterloo
$1,061/month
727 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Waterloo?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Waterloo is the most expensive neighborhood in Waterloo.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Waterloo
$1,061/month
727 Sq Ft

Which Waterloo neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhood in Waterloo with the most apartments available is Downtown Waterloo .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Waterloo
$1,061/month
727 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Waterloo, IA?

Because the average rent in Waterloo is $797, you’ll want to make about $2,656 per month or $31,872 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Waterloo, IA is 10.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Waterloo is 12.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $797 - $1,096. You can expect to pay 3.2% less for groceries, 19.3% less for utilities, and 9.7% less for transportation.

City

Waterloo, IA

415 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Waterloo, IA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Waterloo, IA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Waterloo, IA

Apartment Averages

Downtown Waterloo

Waterloo, IA

Downtown Waterloo

Waterloo, IA

Studio
$1,224/month
$1,224/month
One Bedroom
$1,376/month
$1,376/month
Two Bedroom
$1,449/month
$1,449/month
Three Bedroom
-
-
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Cedar Falls Average Rent

Apartment communities in Waterloo we think you'll love

The Residences on College Hill

The Residences on College Hill

2109 College St,
Cedar Falls, IA 50613

$350 - $1,400

1-4 Beds

Art Bloc

Art Bloc

335 Cedar St,
Waterloo, IA 50701

$1,110 - $1,510

Studio - 1 Bed

Union at North Crossing

Union at North Crossing

3330 E 4th St,
Waterloo, IA 50703

$850 - $1,185

1-3 Beds

University Manor

University Manor

1939 College St,
Cedar Falls, IA 50613

$815 - $1,055

1-2 Beds

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United States Iowa Waterloo Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity