Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 11.1% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.0% more in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 10.6% more in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 18.5% more in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 22.4% more in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 26.1% more in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.0% less in North Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 0.8% more in North Carolina
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in North Carolina are more expensive than in Iowa.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 4.0% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$16.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$10.06
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 10.6% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$6.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.46
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$4.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.35
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$2.18
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.51
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 18.5% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.19
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$53.89
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$34,400.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 22.4% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$72.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,527.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,294.23
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 26.1% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,254.70
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 5.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$4.89
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$7.33
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$54.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$13.35
|
|
pay 0.8% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$49.88
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$37.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$86.65
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$111.01
|
|
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