Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 1.4% more expensive than Michigan.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.6% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 3.3% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 8.8% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 4.2% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 0.4% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 14.4% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 11.3% more in Iowa
The cost of entertainment and sports, clothing, and groceries in Iowa are more expensive than in Michigan. Expenses including transportation, restaurants, housing, and childcare are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Michigan, you would:
pay 5.6% less for restaurants
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.68
|
$15.50
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.87
|
$9.86
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.25
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.85
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 3.3% more for groceries
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.01
|
$2.75
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.12
|
$5.26
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.27
|
$3.55
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.81
|
$2.97
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.74
|
$4.90
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.25
|
$2.27
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.66
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.83
|
$2.31
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.98
|
$2.19
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.17
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.35
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 8.8% less for transportation
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.37
|
$3.26
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$48.27
|
$41.60
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,758.20
|
$28,209.92
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.62
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 4.2% less for housing
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.88
|
$68.83
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,322.38
|
$1,149.79
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,104.85
|
$848.38
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$124.58
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 0.4% less for childcare
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,159.08
|
$1,043.98
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$17,453.87
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 14.4% more for entertainment and sports
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.24
|
$4.95
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.78
|
$5.14
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.42
|
$8.68
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.69
|
$61.12
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.67
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 11.3% more for clothing
Michigan
|
Iowa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$46.13
|
$50.44
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$33.59
|
$39.50
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$77.38
|
$83.35
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.04
|
$105.02
|
|
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