Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen and Ames, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Aberdeen is 9.2% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Aberdeen is 6.7% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 10.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.82 £16.06
$18.07 $18.07
20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 £59.8
$44.34 $44.34
83.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 £7.26
$9.04 $9.04
9.07%
Cappuccino
$4.65 £3.42
$5.27 $5.27
-11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 £1.54
$1.95 $1.95
7.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 £1.11
$1.74 $1.74
-13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 £4.52
$2.99 $2.99
105.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.72 £4.95
$6.94 $6.94
-3.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 £1.27
$1.01 $1.01
71.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 £1.24
$3.65 $3.65
-53.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 £1.36
$3.11 $3.11
-40.51%
Eggs
$4.23 £3.11
$3.29 $3.29
28.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.66 £6.37
$9.44 $9.44
-8.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.82 £8.7
$11.6 $11.6
1.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.76 £10.13
$14.09 $14.09
-2.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 £2.25
$5.09 $5.09
-40.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 £1.26
$1.15 $1.15
48.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 £2.04
$5.79 $5.79
-52.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 £3.01
$5.1 $5.1
-19.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 £0.84
$3.76 $3.76
-69.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 £1.03
$3.75 $3.75
-62.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 £0.84
$1.99 $1.99
-42.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 £0.99
$1.97 $1.97
-31.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.86 £13.88
$9 $9
109.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.17 £6.75
$16.23 $16.23
-43.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 £1.66
$1.71 $1.71
31.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 £1.66
$4.38 $4.38
-48.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.62 £4.14
$1.49 $1.49
277.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 £79.5
$47.13 $47.13
129.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.81 £3.54
$4.9 $4.9
-1.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 £1.23
$1.39 $1.39
20.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.25 £25.94
$49.16 $49.16
-28.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.37
$0.8 $0.8
133.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £27.8K
$24.7K $24.7K
52.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K £30.5K
$25.5K $25.5K
62.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$400 £294
$189 $189
111.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.11 £17.74
$48.48 $48.48
-50.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.43 £34.17
$74.3 $74.3
-37.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.3 £45.82
$68.5 $68.5
-9.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.66 £7.84
$19.74 $19.74
-46.00%
Cinema Ticket
$8.72 £6.42
$13.9 $13.9
-37.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,864 £1,372
$1,470 $1,470
26.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K £11.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
-48.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6 £61.5
$38.64 $38.64
116.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.61 £30.62
$42.65 $42.65
-2.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 £69
$84.4 $84.4
11.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 £87.9
$116 $116
3.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 £643
$989 $989
-11.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 £573
$837 $837
-6.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,654 £1,217
$1,931 $1,931
-14.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 £1,151
$1,676 $1,676
-6.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,087 £2,272
$2,346 $2,346
31.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,715 £1,998
$2,182 $2,182
24.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen
Ames, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,725 £2,741
$3,732 $3,732
-0.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
6.02
2.99%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aberdeen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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