Cost of living comparison
Boston is 53.1% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 42.1% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 46.9% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 37.1% more in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 97.5% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 82.0% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 39.9% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 26.5% more in Boston
The cost of housing, childcare, groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Boston are more expensive than in Iowa. Notably, housing and childcare are significantly more expensive in Boston.
If you lived in Boston instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 42.1% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$22.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$12.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 46.9% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 37.1% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 97.5% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 82.0% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 39.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 26.5% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$157.18
|
|
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