Cost of living comparison
United States is 15.3% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.8% more in United States
- Groceries
-
pay 9.8% more in United States
- Transportation
-
pay 23.6% more in United States
- Housing
-
pay 30.4% more in United States
- Childcare
-
pay 23.2% more in United States
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.6% more in United States
- Clothing
-
pay 2.8% more in United States
The cost of housing, transportation, childcare, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in United States are more expensive than in Iowa.
If you lived in United States instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 14.8% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 9.8% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 23.6% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 30.4% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 23.2% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 2.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 2.8% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$111.08
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about United States or Iowa. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.