🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,319 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,504 in Kissimmee, FL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,242 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,811 in Kissimmee, FL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,165 in Iowa City, IA versus $5,118 in Kissimmee, FL.
🌍Living in Iowa City, IA costs roughly 7% less than in Kissimmee, FL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iowa City, IA74% above, Kissimmee, FL87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27$15.27
$19.92$19.92
-23.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$76.3$76.3
-2.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.97$8.97
$9.96$9.96
-9.94%
Cappuccino
$5.22$5.22
$5.27$5.27
-0.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36$2.36
$2.11$2.11
11.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$1.88$1.88
-2.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.15$5.15
$4.78$4.78
7.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92$6.92
$5.85$5.85
18.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.00$1.00
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70$2.70
$3.05$3.05
-11.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.95$4.95
$2.61$2.61
89.66%
Eggs
$4.14$4.14
$4.35$4.35
-4.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.07$9.07
$10.58$10.58
-14.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.55$10.55
$9.15$9.15
15.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.21$16.21
$12.00$12.00
35.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$5.76$5.76
-40.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22$1.22
$1.78$1.78
-31.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$4.70$4.70
-40.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$3.35$3.35
42.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00$2.00
$2.42$2.42
-17.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$2.59$2.59
8.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.39$1.39
46.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$1.70$1.70
14.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07$9.07
$8.15$8.15
11.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.84$15.84
$8.07$8.07
96.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$2.06$2.06
-17.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79$4.79
$2.81$2.81
70.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$1.97$1.97
2.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.05$16.05
$49.52$49.52
-67.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.57$4.57
$3.02$3.02
51.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15$2.15
$1.61$1.61
33.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.69$42.69
$24.79$24.79
72.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.87$0.87
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$25.0K$25.0K
0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$24.3K$24.3K
5.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220$220
$125$125
75.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.6$51.6
$49.59$49.59
3.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$81.6$81.6
-6.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.61$49.61
$29.48$29.48
68.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.20$20.20
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.13$12.13
$12.12$12.12
0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,288$1,288
$633$633
103.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.9K$24.9K
$23.7K$23.7K
5.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5$67.5
$48.42$48.42
39.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.09$49.09
$28.95$28.95
69.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101$101
$82.1$82.1
23.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116$116
$86.5$86.5
34.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,238$1,238
$1,695$1,695
-26.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079$1,079
$1,390$1,390
-22.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,388$2,388
$2,568$2,568
-7.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543$1,543
$2,559$2,559
-39.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,861$3,861
$2,513$2,513
53.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,893$1,893
$2,468$2,468
-23.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iowa City, IA
Kissimmee, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,611$3,611
$2,757$2,757
31.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.43
6.53
-1.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iowa City, IA: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kissimmee, FL: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,238 in Iowa City, IA and $1,695 in Kissimmee, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Iowa City, IA pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Iowa City, IA vs $76.0 in Kissimmee, FL. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $327, with Kissimmee, FL cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Iowa City, IA vs Kissimmee, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kissimmee, FL cheaper than Iowa City, IA?
Iowa City, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Iowa City, IA or Kissimmee, FL?
Average pay runs 31% higher in Iowa City, IA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Iowa City, IA and Kissimmee, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,238 in Iowa City, IA versus $1,695 in Kissimmee, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Iowa City, IA runs roughly 209% less than in Kissimmee, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,288 in Iowa City, IA versus $633 in Kissimmee, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Iowa City, IA or in Kissimmee, FL?
At $2,319 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,504 in Kissimmee, FL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Iowa City, IA but tight or insufficient in Kissimmee, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Iowa City, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Iowa City, IA or in Kissimmee, FL?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Iowa City, IA or Kissimmee, FL?
Safety-wise, Iowa City, IA and Kissimmee, FL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Iowa City, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Kissimmee, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Iowa City, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared