Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 21.4% more expensive than Madrid.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.5% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 43.9% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 18.0% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 18.8% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 86.5% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 45.4% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 16.6% less in Iowa
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing in Iowa are more expensive than in Madrid. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Madrid, you would:
pay 10.5% less for restaurants
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€15.59
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.72
€10.39
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.79
€2.70
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.80
€1.75
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 43.9% more for groceries
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.50
€1.45
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.92
€6.71
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.41
€4.27
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.05
€2.96
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.78
€3.67
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.13
€1.09
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.87
€0.84
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.01
€0.97
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05
€1.02
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.81
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.82
€0.80
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 18.0% less for transportation
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.79
€6.58
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.87
€41.58
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,759.38
€34,679.12
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.90
€14.45
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 18.8% more for housing
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.85
€30.88
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,468.90
€1,424.52
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,074.71
€1,042.24
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$130.03
€126.10
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 86.5% more for childcare
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$567.57
€550.42
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,069.47
€9,765.28
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 45.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.75
€3.64
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
€2.51
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.43
€6.24
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$43.11
€41.81
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.72
€10.39
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 16.6% less for clothing
|
Madrid
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$90.50
€87.77
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.21
€36.09
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.88
€94.92
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$121.40
€117.73
|
$105.02
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Iowa or Madrid. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.