Cost of living in Iowa City
compared to
Cost of living in Iowa City vs. United States overall average
Iowa City is 6.9% cheaper than United States overall.
Iowa City Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $15.00 |
$11.00
$11.00
$25.00
$25.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00 |
$8.00
$8.00
$15.00
$15.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.62 |
$2.00
$2.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $1.81 |
$1.50
$1.50
$3.00
$3.00
|
Iowa City - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.68 |
$1.57
$1.57
$7.72
$7.72
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $4.65 |
$4.65
$4.65
$9.92
$9.92
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.27 |
$2.56
$2.56
$4.40
$4.40
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.13 |
$2.00
$2.00
$6.00
$6.00
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.77 |
$2.67
$2.67
$8.00
$8.00
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.52 |
$1.30
$1.30
$3.99
$3.99
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.54 |
$0.49
$0.49
$1.09
$1.09
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.24 |
$0.88
$0.88
$5.67
$5.67
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.23 |
$1.28
$1.28
$3.98
$3.98
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.92 |
$0.79
$0.79
$1.59
$1.59
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.29 |
$0.76
$0.76
$2.00
$2.00
|
Iowa City - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.01 |
$2.67
$2.67
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $16.00 | -- |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $29,454.22 |
$23,208.70
$23K
$35,699.74
$36K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $21.90 |
$21.90
$21.90
$23.40
$23.40
|
Iowa City - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.85 |
$50.00
$50.00
$150.00
$150.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,231.25 |
$875.00
$875.00
$2,500.00
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,100.00 |
$1,000.00
$1K
$1,200.00
$1K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$163.91 |
$98.65
$98.65
$298.24
$298.24
|
Iowa City - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,266.67 |
$1,000.00
$1K
$1,714.58
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $24,601.00 |
$24,601.00
$25K
$24,601.00
$25K
|
Iowa City - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $5.00 |
$4.00
$4.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.38 |
$4.00
$4.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.00 |
$8.00
$8.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $49.33 |
$10.00
$10.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $13.50 |
$12.00
$12.00
$28.00
$28.00
|
Iowa City - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$70.00 |
$50.00
$50.00
$98.00
$98.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$48.33 |
$29.99
$29.99
$79.00
$79.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$100.00 |
$60.00
$60.00
$140.00
$140.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $115.00 |
$65.00
$65.00
$175.00
$175.00
|
Iowa City - Cost of clothing
Compare Iowa City with other locations
Help us improve these prices
MyLifeElsewhere is a collaborative project. Please enter price information for your location to help assist us in making these comparisons more accurate.
Learn more
Ask the Elsewhere Community
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Iowa City. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.