Cost of living comparison
District of Columbia is 53.0% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 36.2% more in District of Columbia
- Groceries
-
pay 29.2% more in District of Columbia
- Transportation
-
pay 43.2% more in District of Columbia
- Housing
-
pay 67.7% more in District of Columbia
- Childcare
-
pay 2.1 times more in District of Columbia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 42.6% more in District of Columbia
- Clothing
-
pay 43.0% more in District of Columbia
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, clothing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in District of Columbia are more expensive than in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in District of Columbia.
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 36.2% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.78
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.22
|
|
pay 29.2% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$4.34
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$7.84
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$4.14
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.91
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$6.73
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.70
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$2.46
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.59
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.55
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 43.2% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.66
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$35,699.74
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$23.88
|
|
pay 67.7% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$66.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$2,582.95
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$2,028.70
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$146.65
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$2,273.25
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$38,250.00
|
|
pay 42.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.55
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$11.75
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$106.36
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$17.18
|
|
pay 43.0% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
District of Columbia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$74.13
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$50.77
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$105.47
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$178.48
|
|
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