Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 5.5% cheaper than Texas.
- Restaurants
-
pay 7.7% less in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 1.9% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 13.8% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 18.1% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 8.2% less in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 11.4% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 4.2% less in Iowa
The cost of entertainment and sports and groceries in Iowa are more expensive than in Texas. Expenses including housing, transportation, childcare, restaurants, and clothing are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Texas, you would:
pay 7.7% less for restaurants
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.27
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.75
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.43
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.88
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 1.9% more for groceries
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.09
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.03
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.67
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.36
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.01
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.92
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.64
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.20
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 13.8% less for transportation
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.93
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$63.02
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,552.44
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.17
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 18.1% less for housing
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.55
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,374.92
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,217.13
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$166.57
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 8.2% less for childcare
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,230.53
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,254.84
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 11.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.20
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.80
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.01
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.81
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 4.2% less for clothing
|
Texas
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.31
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.62
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$87.49
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$120.01
|
$105.02
|
|
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