Relocation: Austin-Round Rock, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos (Monthly) | Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,530 | $838 | -$692 | -45.2% |
| Food & Groceries | $334 | $347 | +$13 | +3.9% |
| Transportation | $1,062 | $1,055 | -$7 | -0.7% |
| Healthcare | $467 | $397 | -$70 | -15.0% |
| Other Necessities | $585 | $320 | -$265 | -45.3% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $1,735 | $1,997 | +$262 | +15.1% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Median | Waterloo-Cedar Falls Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $117,850 | $82,400 | -$35,450 (-30.1%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,120 | $113,970 | -$20,150 (-15.0%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $97,890 | $76,920 | -$20,970 (-21.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $102,390 | $81,600 | -$20,790 (-20.3%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $83,120 | $73,530 | -$9,590 (-11.5%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $176,990 | $132,210 | -$44,780 (-25.3%) | View Dossier |
| Solutions ArchitectTechnology | Technology | $129,470 | $107,660 | -$21,810 (-16.8%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $151,760 | $125,050 | -$26,710 (-17.6%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $60,390 | $63,420 | +$3,030 (+5.0%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $167,180 | $125,690 | -$41,490 (-24.8%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $164,920 | $114,940 | -$49,980 (-30.3%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $106,600 | $83,850 | -$22,750 (-21.3%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Relocation FAQs
About $71,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 90.1 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Austin-Round Rock, TX to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $71,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 90.1 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 28.2% lower in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA than in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.