Cost of living comparison
Texas is 8.5% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.8% more in Texas
- Groceries
-
pay 0.2% less in Texas
- Transportation
-
pay 20.1% more in Texas
- Housing
-
pay 23.6% more in Texas
- Childcare
-
pay 9.5% more in Texas
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.7% less in Texas
- Clothing
-
pay 4.7% more in Texas
The cost of housing, transportation, childcare, restaurants, and clothing in Texas are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including entertainment and sports and groceries are lower in Texas.
If you lived in Texas instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 8.8% more for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$17.27
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$9.75
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.43
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.88
|
|
pay 0.2% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$3.09
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$6.03
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$3.67
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.36
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$5.01
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.92
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.64
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.28
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.20
|
|
pay 20.1% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$2.93
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$63.02
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$32,552.44
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$19.17
|
|
pay 23.6% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$72.55
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$1,374.92
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,217.13
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$166.57
|
|
pay 9.5% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,230.53
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$19,254.84
|
|
pay 6.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$5.20
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$8.80
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$38.01
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$12.81
|
|
pay 4.7% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Texas
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$51.31
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$38.62
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$87.49
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$120.01
|
|
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