Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 3.3% more expensive than Alabama.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.2% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 5.1% less in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 1.4% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 1.2% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 6.9% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 19.9% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 4.5% more in Iowa
The cost of entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, and housing in Iowa are more expensive than in Alabama. Expenses including groceries, restaurants, and transportation are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Alabama, you would:
pay 3.2% less for restaurants
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.94
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.04
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.02
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.87
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 5.1% less for groceries
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.34
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.87
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.73
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.25
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.70
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.71
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.90
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.46
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.33
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 1.4% less for transportation
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.04
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.67
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,723.76
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.76
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 1.2% more for housing
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.12
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,069.72
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$836.44
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$152.52
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 6.9% more for childcare
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$992.09
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$17,515.79
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 19.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.19
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.90
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.31
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$37.18
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.05
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 4.5% more for clothing
|
Alabama
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$44.10
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.85
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$79.09
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.25
|
$105.02
|
|
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