Cost of living comparison
Wisconsin is 8.7% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.2% more in Wisconsin
- Groceries
-
pay 2.4% less in Wisconsin
- Transportation
-
pay 7.8% more in Wisconsin
- Housing
-
pay 6.5% more in Wisconsin
- Childcare
-
pay 41.7% more in Wisconsin
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.9% less in Wisconsin
- Clothing
-
pay 2.2% more in Wisconsin
The cost of childcare, restaurants, transportation, housing, and clothing in Wisconsin are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including entertainment and sports and groceries are lower in Wisconsin.
If you lived in Wisconsin instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 8.2% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$15.73
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$10.10
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.58
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.83
|
|
pay 2.4% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.33
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$5.80
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.12
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.40
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.21
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.20
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.63
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.83
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.00
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$0.92
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.18
|
|
pay 7.8% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.32
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$48.83
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$27,075.50
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$18.01
|
|
pay 6.5% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$66.87
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,172.05
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,035.25
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$139.00
|
|
pay 41.7% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,476.60
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$27,034.78
|
|
pay 2.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$4.89
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.09
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$9.90
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$48.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$12.19
|
|
pay 2.2% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Wisconsin
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$51.29
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$85.49
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$108.03
|
|
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