Is Waterloo really cheaper than Ottawa, IL?

Based on typical 1-bedroom rent, Ottawa, IL is approximately 116% cheaper than Waterloo. Overall cost of living including rent follows a similar pattern.

What is the average rent in Waterloo vs Ottawa, IL?

In Ottawa, IL, a 1-bedroom in the city centre costs around $650. In Waterloo, the same costs around $1,401.

What is the FIRE Score for Ottawa, IL?

Rewire Abroad gives Ottawa, IL a FIRE Score of 64/100, meaning it provides a solid foundation for FIRE planning.

Is Ottawa, IL good for digital nomads?

Rewire Abroad gives Ottawa, IL a Nomad Score of 22/100. Internet speeds average 110Mbps.

Is Ottawa, IL or Waterloo safer?

Based on the Safety Index, Waterloo scores higher at 85 vs Ottawa, IL's 71.

Can I retire in Canada as a foreigner?

Many foreigners retire in Canada. We recommend checking visa options and consulting an expat tax specialist.

Compare Cities

Ottawa, IL vs Waterloo

Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo

Ottawa, ILOverall winner

Ottawa, IL is approximately 116% less expensive than Waterloo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ottawa, IL a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Ottawa, IL has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 71, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Ottawa, IL is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Side by side

Best in row

United States

Ottawa, IL

Nomad68

Canada

Waterloo

Normal Precautions

Nomad85

Cost

Cost of living index

67.2

55.6

One person, excluding rent

$1,042/mo

$862/mo

Family of four, excluding rent

$3,763/mo

$3,114/mo

Total monthly, rent included

$1,938/mo

$1,973/mo

Monthly savings

$1,062/mo

$1,027/mo

Housing

1BR, city centre

$650

$1,401

1BR, outside centre

$850

$1,146

3BR, city centre

$1,250

$2,140

3BR, outside centre

$1,500

$1,827

Scores

FIRE score

74/100

64/100

Nomad score

22/100

50/100

Retiree score

59/100

72/100

Overall score

68/100

85/100

Safety & infrastructure

Safety index

Internet speed

110 Mbps

120 Mbps

Walkability score

Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.

About these cities

About Ottawa, IL

Ottawa, IL, is a cheap, quiet Midwest pit stop, not a destination. A single adult can scrape by on about $1,115/mo, but the average local salary of $2,400/mo leaves little room for error, and the 103 km haul to ORD makes any international travel a chore. The safety index of 71 is solid, and healthcare is good, but with a small expat community and a continental climate, you're here for the low rent, not the lifestyle. If you crave urban energy or a big expat scene, keep driving.

About United States

Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.

Waterloo costs roughly 21% less than Ottawa, IL. Ottawa, IL leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

Household

Lifestyle

Monthly income (USD)

Schooling

Ottawa, IL is approximately 116% less expensive than Waterloo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ottawa, IL a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Ottawa, IL has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 71, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Ottawa, IL is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Overall Winner

Ottawa, IL

United States

Nomad68

About Ottawa, IL

About United States

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,062/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$1,042/mo

Family of Four$3,763/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$650

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$850

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$1,250

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$1,500

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

74/100

Retiree Score

59/100

Nomad Score

22/100

City Details

Waterloo

Canada

Normal Precautions

Nomad85

About Waterloo

Waterloo is a small city that punches well above its weight for tech workers and students, with a cost of living index of 56/100 and a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $1,146/mo. The catch is that the average monthly net salary of $2,934/mo leaves little slack once you factor in $910/mo in non-rent costs for a single person, so budget carefully. With a safety index of 85/100 and an expat score of 85/100, it suits remote workers and digital nomads who want a quiet, efficient base rather than big-city buzz.

About Canada

Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,027/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$862/mo

Family of Four$3,114/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$1,401

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$1,146

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$2,140

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$1,827

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

64/100

Retiree Score

72/100

Nomad Score

50/100

City Details

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Battle of Lifestyles

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Metric	Ottawa, IL	Waterloo
1BR Apartment (Center)	$650	$1401
1BR Apartment (Outside)	$850	$1145.58
3BR Apartment (Center)	$1250	$2140.37
3BR Apartment (Outside)	$1500	$1827.09
Safety Index	71	85
Internet Speed	110Mbps	120Mbps
Walkability Score	N/A	N/A

Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices

Category	Ottawa, IL	Waterloo
Total (rent included)	N/A	$1,973/mo
Excluding rent	N/A	$827/mo
Rent	N/A	$1,146/mo
Groceries	N/A	$275/mo
Dining out	N/A	$175/mo
Entertainment & lifestyle	N/A	$94.00/mo
Utilities & connectivity	N/A	$214/mo
Transport	N/A	$69.00/mo

Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.

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