Cost of living comparison
Alabama is 3.4% more expensive than Iowa.
If you lived in Alabama instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 11.9% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.62
|
$16.44
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.21
|
$8.87
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.09
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.50
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 0.5% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.92
|
$2.95
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.34
|
$5.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.42
|
$3.66
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.76
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.42
|
$5.04
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.52
|
$2.42
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.88
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.14
|
$2.02
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.48
|
$1.68
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.08
|
$1.26
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.31
|
$1.23
|
|
pay 19.8% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.25
|
$3.17
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.33
|
$70.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,180.36
|
$24,359.72
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.77
|
$16.48
|
|
pay 0.2% less for housing
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$71.34
|
$62.65
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$970.95
|
$980.09
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$657.81
|
$719.33
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.85
|
$142.47
|
|
pay 11.3% less for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$907.34
|
$886.04
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$16,239.17
|
$12,933.33
|
|
pay 2.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.64
|
$4.55
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.27
|
$4.63
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.77
|
$6.93
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.83
|
$32.01
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.60
|
$11.42
|
|
pay 6.8% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$43.72
|
$40.87
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.28
|
$32.78
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$77.53
|
$83.92
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.28
|
$113.04
|
|
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