Cost of living comparison
San Diego is 41.3% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 28.9% more in San Diego
- Groceries
-
pay 16.1% more in San Diego
- Transportation
-
pay 45.4% more in San Diego
- Housing
-
pay 100.0% more in San Diego
- Childcare
-
pay 40.9% more in San Diego
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 34.5% more in San Diego
- Clothing
-
pay 23.4% more in San Diego
The cost of housing, transportation, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and clothing in San Diego are more expensive than in Iowa. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in San Diego.
If you lived in San Diego instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 28.9% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$21.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.64
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$2.21
|
|
pay 16.1% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$4.20
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$7.34
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$4.38
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$4.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.85
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.77
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.26
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.31
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.06
|
|
pay 45.4% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$5.15
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$72.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$35,376.95
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$19.40
|
|
pay 100.0% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$70.11
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$2,839.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$2,284.17
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$240.96
|
|
pay 40.9% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,754.29
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$21,666.67
|
|
pay 34.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.41
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$11.06
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$84.21
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$18.00
|
|
pay 23.4% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
San Diego
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$58.49
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$59.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$91.33
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$122.86
|
|
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