Cost of living comparison
Massachusetts is 34.6% more expensive than Iowa.
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 24.5% more for restaurants
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.06
|
$21.71
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.56
|
$10.88
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.61
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.72
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 30.0% more for groceries
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.57
|
$3.85
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.42
|
$7.56
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.44
|
$4.49
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.96
|
$4.55
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.79
|
$5.28
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.55
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.64
|
$0.79
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.90
|
$2.35
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.09
|
$2.56
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05
|
$1.43
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.29
|
$1.54
|
|
pay 27.2% more for transportation
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.22
|
$3.53
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$41.67
|
$71.60
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,291.62
|
$31,382.05
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.84
|
$16.65
|
|
pay 51.9% more for housing
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.69
|
$64.71
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,107.08
|
$2,028.56
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$831.82
|
$1,906.23
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.13
|
$141.33
|
|
pay 67.0% more for childcare
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,030.74
|
$1,823.67
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,379.75
|
$32,000.00
|
|
pay 34.6% more for entertainment and sports
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.03
|
$6.55
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.05
|
$5.10
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.26
|
$12.54
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.83
|
$78.43
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.12
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 7.2% more for clothing
Iowa
|
Massachusetts
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$46.34
|
$50.35
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.37
|
$42.98
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.19
|
$84.65
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$106.97
|
$119.74
|
|
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