Relocation: Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock, TX
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
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.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Monthly) | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $838 | $1,530 | +$692 | +82.6% |
| Food & Groceries | $347 | $334 | -$13 | -3.7% |
| Transportation | $1,055 | $1,062 | +$7 | +0.7% |
| Healthcare | $397 | $467 | +$70 | +17.6% |
| Other Necessities | $320 | $585 | +$265 | +82.8% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $1,997 | $1,735 | -$262 | -13.1% |
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 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls Median | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $82,400 | $117,850 | +$35,450 (+43.0%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $113,970 | $134,120 | +$20,150 (+17.7%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $76,920 | $97,890 | +$20,970 (+27.3%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $81,600 | $102,390 | +$20,790 (+25.5%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $73,530 | $83,120 | +$9,590 (+13.0%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $132,210 | $176,990 | +$44,780 (+33.9%) | View Dossier |
| Solutions ArchitectTechnology | Technology | $107,660 | $129,470 | +$21,810 (+20.3%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $125,050 | $151,760 | +$26,710 (+21.4%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $63,420 | $60,390 | -$3,030 (-4.8%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $125,690 | $167,180 | +$41,490 (+33.0%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $114,940 | $164,920 | +$49,980 (+43.5%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $83,850 | $106,600 | +$22,750 (+27.1%) | 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
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX Relocation FAQs
About $139,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (90.1 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to Austin-Round Rock, TX compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $139,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (90.1 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 39.3% higher in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX than in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.