Cost of living comparison
Canada is 4.1% more expensive than Iowa.
If you lived in Canada instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 1.0% less for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.62
|
$15.95
CA$21.52
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.21
|
$8.82
CA$11.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$1.77
CA$2.39
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.50
|
$1.47
CA$1.98
|
|
pay 1.3% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.92
|
$2.29
CA$3.09
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.34
|
$5.39
CA$7.27
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.42
|
$7.61
CA$10.27
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.76
|
$3.04
CA$4.10
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.42
|
$4.81
CA$6.48
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.52
|
$1.62
CA$2.19
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.88
|
$0.68
CA$0.91
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.14
|
$1.60
CA$2.16
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.48
|
$1.71
CA$2.31
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.08
|
$1.13
CA$1.52
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.31
|
$1.11
CA$1.50
|
|
pay 26.8% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.25
|
$4.96
CA$6.69
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.33
|
$63.09
CA$85.13
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,180.36
|
$21,101.60
CA$28,471.34
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.77
|
$16.98
CA$22.91
|
|
pay 6.0% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$71.34
|
$64.04
CA$86.40
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$970.95
|
$1,066.70
CA$1,439.24
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$657.81
|
$952.71
CA$1,285.44
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.85
|
$112.22
CA$151.41
|
|
pay 17.9% less for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$907.34
|
$746.92
CA$1,007.78
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$16,239.17
|
$13,296.08
CA$17,939.74
|
|
pay 8.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.64
|
$4.67
CA$6.30
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.27
|
$3.31
CA$4.47
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.77
|
$11.96
CA$16.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.83
|
$43.49
CA$58.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.60
|
$10.20
CA$13.76
|
|
pay 7.7% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$43.72
|
$49.87
CA$67.29
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.28
|
$36.92
CA$49.81
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$77.53
|
$78.02
CA$105.27
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.28
|
$97.82
CA$131.99
|
|
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