Waterloo, IA vs Duncan
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Waterloo, IA is approximately 42% less expensive than Duncan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Waterloo, IA a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Waterloo, IA has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Waterloo, IA is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Best in rowUnited States
Waterloo, IA
Canada
Duncan
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Waterloo, IA
Waterloo is a genuinely cheap place to land, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $747/mo and a cost of living index of 65/100 against an average net salary of $3,911/mo. The catch is that a small expat community and a retiree score of 59/100 mean you are buying affordability, not company, so anyone craving a built-in social scene will feel the quiet. Digital nomads and FIRE-minded savers do well here at 71/100 and 64/100, and the 6 km hop to ALO keeps weekend escapes easy. Come for the math, stay only if you can make your own fun.
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.
Duncan costs roughly 2.3x less than Waterloo, IA. Waterloo, IA leads on digital nomad infrastructure, with faster average internet speeds. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Waterloo, IA is approximately 42% less expensive than Duncan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Waterloo, IA a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Waterloo, IA has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Waterloo, IA is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Waterloo, IA
United StatesAbout Waterloo, IA
Waterloo is a genuinely cheap place to land, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $747/mo and a cost of living index of 65/100 against an average net salary of $3,911/mo. The catch is that a small expat community and a retiree score of 59/100 mean you are buying affordability, not company, so anyone craving a built-in social scene will feel the quiet. Digital nomads and FIRE-minded savers do well here at 71/100 and 64/100, and the 6 km hop to ALO keeps weekend escapes easy. Come for the math, stay only if you can make your own fun.
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.
$1,397/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Duncan
Duncan is a tiny town of 5 thousand people where a single adult can live on $1,100/mo, and a 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $1,035/mo. The tradeoff is a small expat community and a local net salary of $3,074/mo, so remote work matters more than local wages. With an 86/100 expat score, 85/100 safety index, and 2 km to YGG, it suits quiet savers who do not need big-city noise.
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.
$1,159/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Waterloo, IA | Duncan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $851.67 | $1209.87 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $746.5 | $1034.53 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1355 | $2267.78 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $955.5 | $2080.75 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 150Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Waterloo, IA | Duncan |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,603/mo | $1,841/mo |
| Excluding rent | $856/mo | $806/mo |
| Rent | $747/mo | $1,035/mo |
| Groceries | $237/mo | $269/mo |
| Dining out | $160/mo | $175/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $126/mo | $132/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $263/mo | $170/mo |
| Transport | $70.00/mo | $60.00/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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