Cost of living comparison
Idaho is 3.2% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 20.8% more in Idaho
- Groceries
-
pay 13.9% less in Idaho
- Transportation
-
pay 7.2% more in Idaho
- Housing
-
pay 5.5% more in Idaho
- Childcare
-
pay 5.1% more in Idaho
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.5% less in Idaho
- Clothing
-
pay 2.0% less in Idaho
The cost of restaurants, transportation, housing, and childcare in Idaho are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including groceries, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Idaho.
If you lived in Idaho instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 20.8% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$18.08
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$11.08
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.75
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.12
|
|
pay 13.9% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.15
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$5.18
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.32
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$2.95
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$4.10
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$1.76
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.67
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.37
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.49
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$0.94
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$0.93
|
|
pay 7.2% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$3.70
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$42.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$31,674.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$15.82
|
|
pay 5.5% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$66.51
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,234.23
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,120.11
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$114.25
|
|
pay 5.1% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,323.99
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$15,880.00
|
|
pay 0.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.17
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.21
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$8.90
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$55.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$12.66
|
|
pay 2.0% less for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Idaho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$49.04
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$38.93
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$85.55
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$98.25
|
|
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