Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 11.4% more expensive than New Mexico.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.7% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 3.0% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 1.9% more in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 12.8% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 99.6% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.4% less in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 4.6% less in Iowa
The cost of childcare, groceries, and transportation in Iowa are more expensive than in New Mexico. Expenses including housing, restaurants, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of New Mexico, you would:
pay 5.7% less for restaurants
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.40
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.80
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.84
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 3.0% more for groceries
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.89
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.59
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.70
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.28
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.55
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.67
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.23
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 1.9% more for transportation
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.16
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$32.00
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,466.85
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.70
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 12.8% less for housing
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$75.22
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,396.70
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,184.76
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$127.88
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 99.6% more for childcare
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,076.67
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,300.00
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 1.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.40
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.52
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.25
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$74.19
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.50
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 4.6% less for clothing
|
New Mexico
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.78
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.25
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.10
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.23
|
$105.02
|
|
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