Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 17.4% more expensive than France overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.3% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 18.5% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 23.6% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 54.3% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 79.5% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 20.0% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 16.3% less in Iowa
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Iowa are more expensive than in France. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of France, you would:
pay 10.3% less for restaurants
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.64
€15.00
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.86
€10.42
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.73
€2.62
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.86
€1.78
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 18.5% more for groceries
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.71
€1.64
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.46
€8.12
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
€4.33
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.79
€3.64
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.82
€5.58
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.27
€1.22
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.96
€0.92
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.28
€1.23
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.47
€1.41
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.90
€0.87
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.97
€0.93
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 23.6% less for transportation
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.25
€6.96
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$50.39
€48.32
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,262.62
€29,979.50
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.66
€16.93
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 54.3% more for housing
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.07
€28.84
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$750.17
€719.38
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$604.38
€579.58
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.10
€134.35
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 79.5% more for childcare
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$690.26
€661.93
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,163.56
€8,787.46
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 20.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.20
€5.95
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.01
€2.89
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.83
€11.35
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$35.91
€34.44
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.10
€11.60
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 16.3% less for clothing
|
France
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.62
€85.94
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.76
€36.21
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.52
€87.76
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.90
€121.69
|
$105.02
|
|
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