Last updated
Average Rent in Waterloo, IA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 7 apartment communities in Waterloo, IA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,555/mo
▼ 13.9% from last month
Lowest Available
$795/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
7
tracked daily
Units Listed
82
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Waterloo, IA
5 listed units across 1 building in Waterloo, IA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $666/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Living Management | Unit 6 | $6,734 | $4,221 | $2,513 |
| Better Living Management | Unit 15 | $1,431 | $920 | $511 |
| Better Living Management | Unit 17 | $1,055 | $920 | $135 |
| Better Living Management | Unit 12 | $895 | $795 | $100 |
| Better Living Management | Unit 1 | $895 | $825 | $70 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Waterloo, IA
Compare average rent across Waterloo, IA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo 50701 | $1,862 | ▼ $339 | $795 | 4 | 54 |
| Waterloo 50703 | $965 | ▲ $41 | $800 | 2 | 27 |
| Waterloo 50702 | $920 | ▼ $93 | $920 | 1 | 1 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Waterloo, IA?
As of August 2026, the average rent in Waterloo, IA is $1,555 per month across 7 apartment communities and 82 available units. Rents have decreased $237 (13.9%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Metro Rentals starting at $795/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,261/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,350/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $1,871/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $1,679/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $1,300/mo.
Prices range from $795 to $8,386 per month. The most common price point is the $800 range, where 27 units are currently listed.
Waterloo, IA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $1,146 | - | 6 |
| June 2026 | $1,118 | -$28 | 7 |
| July 2026 | $1,538 | +$420 | 9 |
| August 2026 | $1,554 | +$16 | 9 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Waterloo, IA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Waterloo, IA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Rentals | $795/mo | $862/mo | 5 | 2.7 |
| Better Living Management | $795/mo | $2,949/mo | 16 | 4.3 |
| Union at North Crossing | $800/mo | $960/mo | 21 | 3.2 |
| Cedar Crest Apartments | $800/mo | $983/mo | 6 | 3.9 |
| Leavitt Park Apartments | $920/mo | $920/mo | 1 | 4 |
| Art Bloc | $1,110/mo | $1,371/mo | 21 | 4.1 |
| Grand Crossing Condos | $1,360/mo | $1,687/mo | 12 | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Waterloo, IA
What is the average rent in Waterloo, IA?
Is rent going up or down in Waterloo, IA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Waterloo, IA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Waterloo, IA?
How many apartments are available in Waterloo, IA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Waterloo, IA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$62,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,555/mo.
Comfortable income
$75,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($795/mo), you need to earn at least $32,000/year.
Median household income in Waterloo, IA is $56,344 , about 25% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Waterloo, IA
Overall prices in Waterloo, IA runs below the national average by about 12% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 88.0, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Waterloo, IA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,555 |
| Utilities | $267 |
| Groceries | $522 |
| Transportation | $637 |
| Healthcare | $311 |
| Other goods and services | $497 |
| Estimated total | $3,790/mo |
Population
66,947
Median household income
$56,344
Census median rent
$896/mo
Rent as % of income
27.4%
Median age
36.6
Mean commute
16 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Waterloo, IA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Waterloo, IA Apartments
Browse all 7 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.