Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 35.7% cheaper than Switzerland overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 49.7% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 14.6% less in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 52.1% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 16.6% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 48.4% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 25.2% less in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 43.5% less in Iowa
Expenses including transportation, restaurants, childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, and housing are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Switzerland, you would:
pay 49.7% less for restaurants
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$27.66
CHF25.14
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$16.97
CHF15.42
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$4.67
CHF4.25
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$4.13
CHF3.75
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 14.6% less for groceries
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.64
CHF3.31
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$13.22
CHF12.01
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.31
CHF6.64
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.80
CHF6.17
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$12.89
CHF11.71
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.52
CHF1.38
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.03
CHF0.94
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.31
CHF1.19
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.85
CHF2.59
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
CHF1.01
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
CHF0.97
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 52.1% less for transportation
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.83
CHF7.12
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$114.11
CHF103.69
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,806.66
CHF33,443.89
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$42.03
CHF38.19
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 16.6% less for housing
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.46
CHF48.57
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,622.75
CHF1,474.49
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,411.84
CHF1,282.85
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$180.02
CHF163.57
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 48.4% less for childcare
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,587.05
CHF2,350.69
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,321.56
CHF27,551.29
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 25.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.82
CHF7.11
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.42
CHF4.92
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.09
CHF9.17
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$88.49
CHF80.40
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$21.15
CHF19.22
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 43.5% less for clothing
|
Switzerland
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$121.70
CHF110.58
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$61.65
CHF56.02
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$136.06
CHF123.63
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$176.75
CHF160.60
|
$105.02
|
|
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