Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 2.0 times more expensive than Sweden overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 7.0% more in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 27.7% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 28.1% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 67.7% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 7.3 times more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.8% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 10.6% less in Iowa
The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in Iowa are more expensive than in Sweden. Expenses including transportation and clothing are lower in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Sweden, you would:
pay 7.0% more for restaurants
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$11.92
SEK119.19
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.45
SEK94.55
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
SEK20.42
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
SEK19.28
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 27.7% more for groceries
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.49
SEK24.86
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.18
SEK51.85
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.43
SEK54.35
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.74
SEK37.40
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.68
SEK46.77
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.19
SEK11.91
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
SEK10.56
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
SEK11.35
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
SEK17.30
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.67
SEK6.74
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.70
SEK7.02
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 28.1% less for transportation
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.64
SEK66.36
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$68.10
SEK681.10
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,850.74
SEK268,531.53
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$21.47
SEK214.67
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 67.7% more for housing
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.29
SEK302.90
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$821.73
SEK8,218.01
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$641.62
SEK6,416.79
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$77.37
SEK773.80
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 7.3 times more for childcare
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$122.27
SEK1,222.86
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,135.75
SEK31,360.30
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 18.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
SEK66.43
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.78
SEK37.85
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.41
SEK64.09
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.70
SEK387.02
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
SEK142.38
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 10.6% less for clothing
|
Sweden
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$79.10
SEK791.04
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.56
SEK355.63
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.42
SEK844.30
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.14
SEK1,251.51
|
$105.02
|
|
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