Cost of living in Iowa
compared to
#44
State Cost of Living Rank
Index: 70 (California = 100)
Cost of living in Iowa vs. United States overall average
Iowa is 12.5% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 9.2% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 15.5% less in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 19.8% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 22.9% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 17.7% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.7% less in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 0.9% less in Iowa
Expenses including housing, transportation, childcare, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Iowa.
Iowa Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $15.83 |
$10.94
$10.94
$30.67
$30.67
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.57 |
$8.39
$8.39
$13.50
$13.50
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.46 |
$1.84
$1.84
$3.94
$3.94
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $1.82 |
$1.36
$1.36
$3.89
$3.89
|
Iowa - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.77 |
$1.56
$1.56
$6.32
$6.32
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $5.89 |
$4.35
$4.35
$9.60
$9.60
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.33 |
$2.58
$2.58
$5.21
$5.21
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.30 |
$1.92
$1.92
$7.13
$7.13
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.57 |
$2.80
$2.80
$8.77
$8.77
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.96 |
$1.18
$1.18
$4.39
$4.39
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.65 |
$0.42
$0.42
$1.40
$1.40
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.93 |
$1.01
$1.01
$4.76
$4.76
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $1.93 |
$0.96
$0.96
$3.18
$3.18
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.99 |
$0.60
$0.60
$2.31
$2.31
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.30 |
$0.76
$0.76
$2.66
$2.66
|
Iowa - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.02 |
$2.69
$2.69
$3.53
$3.53
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $38.07 |
$38.33
$38.33
$43.00
$43.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $28,093.10 |
$25,764.30
$26K
$35,367.12
$35K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $15.46 |
$15.18
$15.18
$23.83
$23.83
|
Iowa - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.62 |
$47.78
$47.78
$114.56
$114.56
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,069.66 |
$862.50
$862.50
$1,490.62
$1K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $852.78 |
$700.00
$700.00
$1,060.00
$1K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$133.13 |
$91.06
$91.06
$269.91
$269.91
|
Iowa - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,152.45 |
$957.53
$957.53
$1,712.51
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $18,898.50 |
$18,263.50
$18K
$22,856.12
$23K
|
Iowa - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $4.44 |
$3.50
$3.50
$7.83
$7.83
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.43 |
$3.86
$3.86
$7.78
$7.78
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.55 |
$7.66
$7.66
$11.34
$11.34
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $63.76 |
$31.83
$31.83
$92.50
$92.50
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $13.58 |
$10.00
$10.00
$18.09
$18.09
|
Iowa - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$55.34 |
$30.89
$30.89
$89.11
$89.11
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.65 |
$25.33
$25.33
$64.67
$64.67
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.56 |
$55.44
$55.44
$135.89
$135.89
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $106.86 |
$63.22
$63.22
$194.44
$194.44
|
Iowa - Cost of clothing
Compare Iowa with other locations
Most Expensive Cities in Iowa
Lower
Medium
Higher
These numbers reflect the average prices of 2 cities in Iowa, including
Cedar Rapids,
Des Moines
.
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