Waterloo, IA, USA
Editor
March 12, 2023
Waterloo, Ontario is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a vibrant and diverse city to explore. With a population of over 100,000, Waterloo is the tenth largest city in Canada and is home to a thriving tech industry. The city is also known for its excellent quality of life, with a low cost of living, a high quality of education, and a wide range of cultural activities. According to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, Waterloo ranks in the top 10 cities in Canada for quality of life. The city also boasts a strong economy, with a GDP of over $30 billion and an unemployment rate of just 4.2%. Additionally, Waterloo is home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy for digital nomads to find a place to work. With its vibrant culture, excellent quality of life, and strong economy, Waterloo is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking to explore a new city.
Living in Waterloo, IA, USA: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
42%
Quality of life -
88%
Cost of living -
79%
Connectivity -
52%
Weather
42
General
| Currency | CAD |
| Population (in millions) | 0.5 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 8% more expensive |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Uptown Waterloo |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 8 |
| Top selling local beer | Waterloo Dark |
| Most popular local dish | Poutine |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | St. Jacobs Farmers Market, Waterloo Park, RIM Park |
| Discount airline | WestJet |
| Major airline | No major airline in Waterloo |
| Largest ride sharing company | Lyft |
| Primary train stations | Waterloo International, Kitchener, and Cambridge |
| Primary airports | None |
| Best rental car company | Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
| Used car costs | 15000 CAD |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Conestoga Mall, 550 King St N, Waterloo, ON N2L 5W6 |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 100 Mbps |
| Power socket type | C, G |
| Supply voltage | 120V |
| Best electronics store | BestBuy |
| Best internet carrier | Rogers |
| Primary cellular carrier | Rogers |
| Average monthly cost for internet | $60.00 CAD |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Shoppers |
| Best restaurant chain | St. Louis |
| The best grocery store | Sobeys |
| The most popular fashion brand | Lululemon |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $50,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $60,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 13% |
| Income tax rate | 15% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | There is no set number of days for tourist visas in Waterloo. Each visa application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 3.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | The amount of money you should take out from an ATM in Waterloo will depend on your individual needs |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | TD Bank |
| Average tip in restaurant | 15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Less common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 519-570-9777 (police), 519-570-8500 (ambulance), 519-570- |
| Polution per square meter | 1,845 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | Not available |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
42%
-
43%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
0%
Property to income -
57%
Crime -
0%
Healthcare -
52%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $2,797 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 5.43% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | $0 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | $0 |
Cost of living
88%
-
Purchasing Power
0%
-
Rent
26%
-
Food
57%
-
Restaurant
0%
-
Workspace
28%
-
Transport
60%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | $900.00 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | $550.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | $2,000.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | $1,075.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | $0.68 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $1.36 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | $4.61 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | $9.92 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | $1.28 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $9.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | $1.71 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $1.50 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | $7.66 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | $6.55 |
| Apples (1kg) | $4.59 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $3.85 |
| Potato (1kg) | $1.12 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.88 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | $1.95 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $5.49 |
| Banana (1kg) | $1.37 |
| Onion (1kg) | $1.63 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | $12.65 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | $10.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | $35.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | $0.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | $4.75 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $4.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | $1.62 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | $0.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $3.00 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | $177.42 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | $0.05 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $83.33 |
Sports
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $9.50 |
Transportation
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $0.79 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | $12,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | $18,000.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $0.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $0.00 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $0.00 |
