Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 2.6 times more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.3 times more in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 2.4 times more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 99.2% more in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 4.2 times more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 65.5% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.5 times more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 20.8% more in Iowa
The cost of restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and childcare in Iowa are more expensive than in China. Notably, restaurants, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of China, you would:
pay 4.3 times more for restaurants
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.63
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥36.60
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.54
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.17
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for groceries
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.50
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥42.27
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥49.57
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.53
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.13
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.51
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.14
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.72
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.78
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.32
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.89
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 99.2% more for transportation
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥32.11
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥162.35
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥137,798.50
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥28.72
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 4.2 times more for housing
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥84.50
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,372.30
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,486.83
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥292.33
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 65.5% more for childcare
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,321.48
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥132,354.54
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.88
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥22.16
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.36
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥299.19
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥42.81
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 20.8% more for clothing
|
China
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥348.44
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥228.84
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥524.03
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥545.76
|
$105.02
|
|
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