Cost of living comparison
Canada is 1.3% cheaper than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 0.9% less in Canada
- Groceries
-
pay 4.2% more in Canada
- Transportation
-
pay 21.0% more in Canada
- Housing
-
pay 3.3% more in Canada
- Childcare
-
pay 33.5% less in Canada
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.2% less in Canada
- Clothing
-
pay 1.2% more in Canada
The cost of transportation, groceries, housing, and clothing in Canada are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in Canada.
If you lived in Canada instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 0.9% less for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$16.37
CA$22.83
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$10.01
CA$13.96
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.00
CA$2.78
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.62
CA$2.25
|
|
pay 4.2% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$2.48
CA$3.46
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$5.30
CA$7.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$8.04
CA$11.20
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.39
CA$4.73
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.12
CA$7.14
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$1.79
CA$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.64
CA$0.89
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.60
CA$2.22
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.74
CA$2.43
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.16
CA$1.61
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.14
CA$1.59
|
|
pay 21.0% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$4.35
CA$6.06
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$65.88
CA$91.85
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$24,555.94
CA$34,237.12
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$16.33
CA$22.77
|
|
pay 3.3% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$60.95
CA$84.98
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,220.42
CA$1,701.56
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,114.36
CA$1,553.69
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$115.39
CA$160.88
|
|
pay 33.5% less for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$729.99
CA$1,017.79
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$12,017.58
CA$16,755.51
|
|
pay 4.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.20
CA$7.25
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$3.58
CA$4.99
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$12.91
CA$18.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$42.97
CA$59.91
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$10.95
CA$15.27
|
|
pay 1.2% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Canada
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$53.89
CA$75.13
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$39.01
CA$54.39
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$84.94
CA$118.42
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$102.12
CA$142.37
|
|
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