Cost of living comparison
Virginia is 24.7% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 20.5% more in Virginia
- Groceries
-
pay 15.2% more in Virginia
- Transportation
-
pay 29.8% more in Virginia
- Housing
-
pay 36.7% more in Virginia
- Childcare
-
pay 53.0% more in Virginia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.2% more in Virginia
- Clothing
-
pay 10.3% more in Virginia
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in Virginia are more expensive than in Iowa.
If you lived in Virginia instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 20.5% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$20.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$11.13
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.48
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.04
|
|
pay 15.2% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.44
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$6.98
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.79
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.41
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$2.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.41
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.55
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.41
|
|
pay 29.8% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.36
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$79.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$32,788.87
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$16.99
|
|
pay 36.7% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$69.48
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,832.03
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,500.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$145.31
|
|
pay 53.0% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,614.20
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$28,849.72
|
|
pay 7.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$6.17
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.19
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$9.03
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$58.19
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$14.24
|
|
pay 10.3% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$53.05
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$41.36
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$92.16
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$126.91
|
|
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