Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 8.8% cheaper than Houston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.8% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 9.3% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 17.8% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 15.9% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 22.8% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.7% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 10.2% less in Iowa
The cost of groceries and entertainment and sports in Iowa are more expensive than in Houston. Expenses including childcare, transportation, housing, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Houston, you would:
pay 8.8% less for restaurants
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 9.3% more for groceries
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.97
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.39
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.53
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.15
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 17.8% less for transportation
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.88
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,278.39
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.79
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 15.9% less for housing
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.71
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,582.84
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,189.12
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.41
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 22.8% less for childcare
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,457.58
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,000.00
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 4.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.97
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 10.2% less for clothing
|
Houston
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.14
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.00
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.28
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.12
|
$105.02
|
|
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