Cost of living comparison
Tennessee is 4.0% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.2% more in Tennessee
- Groceries
-
pay 8.4% more in Tennessee
- Transportation
-
pay 0.3% more in Tennessee
- Housing
-
pay 15.0% more in Tennessee
- Childcare
-
pay 5.2% less in Tennessee
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.0% less in Tennessee
- Clothing
-
pay 5.4% more in Tennessee
The cost of housing, restaurants, groceries, clothing, and transportation in Tennessee are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including entertainment and sports and childcare are lower in Tennessee.
If you lived in Tennessee instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 13.2% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$17.86
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$9.51
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.54
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 8.4% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$2.90
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$5.63
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.62
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.49
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.03
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.70
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.95
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.21
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.32
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.70
|
|
pay 0.3% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.06
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$41.50
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$31,466.25
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$14.88
|
|
pay 15.0% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$66.90
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,303.80
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,173.17
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$147.41
|
|
pay 5.2% less for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,030.34
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$17,284.00
|
|
pay 9.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.12
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$7.10
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$33.17
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$12.70
|
|
pay 5.4% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Tennessee
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$53.07
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$43.48
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$85.12
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$109.39
|
|
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