Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 2.3 times more expensive than Jamaica.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Jamaica, you would:
pay 74.8% more for restaurants
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.25
JMD1,154.31
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.80
JMD1,242.60
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.33
JMD211.90
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.85
JMD134.74
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 12.2% more for groceries
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.62
JMD417.67
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.91
JMD942.14
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$13.43
JMD2,138.58
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.35
JMD533.23
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.97
JMD472.79
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.46
JMD392.18
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.21
JMD191.96
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.71
JMD272.26
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
JMD193.96
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
JMD146.33
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.77
JMD121.98
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 20.9% less for transportation
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
JMD769.98
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.59
JMD5,988.44
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$40,601.97
JMD6,467,517.49
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.62
JMD3,603.05
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 76.0% more for housing
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.42
JMD7,713.37
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$594.87
JMD94,756.52
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$355.79
JMD56,673.73
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$101.67
JMD16,194.54
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 7.3 times more for childcare
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$194.86
JMD31,040.09
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,060.17
JMD328,166.63
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 43.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.65
JMD421.57
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.05
JMD485.70
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.65
JMD1,377.34
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.08
JMD6,542.93
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.65
JMD1,856.42
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 67.8% more for clothing
|
Jamaica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$24.19
JMD3,852.56
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$21.83
JMD3,476.62
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$66.00
JMD10,513.04
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$67.67
JMD10,779.20
|
$105.02
|
|
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