Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 6.8% cheaper than Australia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.1% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 11.3% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 23.4% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 1.4% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 0.1% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.2% less in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 18.5% less in Iowa
The cost of groceries, housing, and childcare in Iowa are more expensive than in Australia. Expenses including transportation, clothing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Australia, you would:
pay 11.1% less for restaurants
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.76
A$26.72
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.73
A$15.52
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.56
A$4.09
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
A$3.45
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 11.3% more for groceries
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.37
A$3.78
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.36
A$6.96
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.80
A$9.25
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.07
A$6.49
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.94
A$6.28
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.45
A$2.31
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.26
A$2.00
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.35
A$2.15
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.01
A$3.21
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
A$1.78
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.96
A$1.53
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 23.4% less for transportation
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.65
A$7.42
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$83.03
A$132.41
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,742.09
A$44,238.71
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.38
A$29.31
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 1.4% more for housing
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.59
A$88.65
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,182.30
A$1,885.35
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$957.92
A$1,527.54
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$138.16
A$220.32
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 0.1% more for childcare
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,485.91
A$2,369.50
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,667.78
A$23,389.87
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 7.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
A$10.59
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.55
A$5.65
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$28.07
A$44.77
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.89
A$84.34
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.13
A$20.94
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 18.5% less for clothing
|
Australia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.78
A$114.46
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.24
A$80.11
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$100.30
A$159.94
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.73
A$178.17
|
$105.02
|
|
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