Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 1.4% more expensive than Arkansas.
- Restaurants
-
pay 6.6% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 11.6% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 7.0% more in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 4.9% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 7.0% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.6% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 2.1% more in Iowa
The cost of groceries, entertainment and sports, transportation, and clothing in Iowa are more expensive than in Arkansas. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, and housing are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Arkansas, you would:
pay 6.6% less for restaurants
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.17
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.46
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.90
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 11.6% more for groceries
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.98
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.73
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.83
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.98
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.79
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.13
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.47
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.69
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.23
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 7.0% more for transportation
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.96
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$35.50
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$29,279.05
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.85
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 4.9% less for housing
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$64.15
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,193.14
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$915.13
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$157.55
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 7.0% less for childcare
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,045.28
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,080.00
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 7.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.33
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.13
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.77
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.86
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 2.1% more for clothing
|
Arkansas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$46.46
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.79
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.01
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$101.19
|
$105.02
|
|
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