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Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Cost of living in Bremer County, IA

Part of the Waterloo Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,784/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 25,118 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $701 25%
Federal tax $543 20%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $180 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Bremer County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$656
per month
1 bedroom
$701
per month
2 bedroom
$920
per month
3 bedroom
$1,196
per month
4 bedroom
$1,220
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Bremer County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$83,343
per year
Individual earnings
$43,239
per year
Per capita
$41,192
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Bremer County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$207,200
Annual property tax
$2,796

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Bremer County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Bremer County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
2.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Bremer County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Bremer County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.1 min
Drive alone
75.3%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
10.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Bremer County

What it costs to live in Bremer County each month.

Single person
$2,784
per month
  • Rent $701
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $543
  • State tax $180
Couple
$4,425
per month
  • Rent $920
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,034
  • State tax $371
Family
$6,825
per month
  • Rent $1,196
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,034
  • State tax $371

Frequently asked questions about Bremer County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Bremer County?

In Bremer County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $701 per month, a two-bedroom averages $920 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,196 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Bremer County?

In Bremer County, IA, the average household income is $83,343 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $43,239 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Bremer County?

The estimated cost of living in Bremer County, IA is approximately $2,784 per month for a single person, $4,425 for a couple, $6,825 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Bremer County?

The combined sales tax rate in Bremer County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Bremer County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Bremer County, IA would need approximately $2,784 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $83,343 per year ($6,945 per month). Bremer County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Bremer County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Bremer County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 2.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Bremer County?

The average home value in Bremer County, IA is $207,200, with average annual property taxes of $2,796, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Bremer County compare to other areas?

You can compare Bremer County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Bremer County is in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Bremer County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources