Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 12.8% more expensive than West Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.4% more in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 14.6% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 10.3% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 1.6% less in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 50.4% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 29.4% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 3.0% more in Iowa
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Iowa are more expensive than in West Virginia. Expenses including transportation and housing are lower in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of West Virginia, you would:
pay 4.4% more for restaurants
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.67
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.42
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 14.6% more for groceries
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.56
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.40
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.05
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.14
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.65
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.70
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.79
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.40
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 10.3% less for transportation
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.31
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$50.00
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,806.12
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.04
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 1.6% less for housing
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.10
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$966.47
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$831.25
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$181.51
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 50.4% more for childcare
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,030.46
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,548.27
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 29.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.88
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.93
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.75
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.75
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 3.0% more for clothing
|
West Virginia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.18
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.61
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.59
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$101.64
|
$105.02
|
|
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