Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 36.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 48.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 35.8% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 57.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$29.68 $29.68

-48.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$144 $144

-47.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 $8.76

$12.43 $12.43

-29.53%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.84 $5.84

-9.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.26 $3.26

-26.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.58 $2.58

-30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$8.24 $8.24

-38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$11.86 $11.86

-40.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.56 $1.56

-44.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$5.23 $5.23

-47.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$8.11 $8.11

-41.55%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$7.25 $7.25

-43.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 $9.32

$17.08 $17.08

-45.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 $10.46

$16.24 $16.24

-35.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$20.02 $20.02

-16.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$7.49 $7.49

-56.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.55 $2.55

-54.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$5.82 $5.82

-52.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$6.52 $6.52

-28.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.72 $3.72

-44.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.9 $3.9

-26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.07 $3.07

-34.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.57 $2.57

-23.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 $9.21

$19.21 $19.21

-52.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.1 $12.1

$17.79 $17.79

-31.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.01 $3.01

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 $4.69

$3.72 $3.72

26.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.92 $2.92

-30.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.78 $15.78

$134 $134

-88.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.13 $5.13

-11.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.15 $2.15

3.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.62 $42.62

$41.57 $41.57

2.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.95 $0.95

-12.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$35K $35K

-28.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-8.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$219 $219

$179 $179

22.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.2 $50.2

$60 $60

-16.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.8 $73.8

$63.8 $63.8

15.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.89 $48.89

$141 $141

-65.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.26 $20.26

$63.9 $63.9

-68.29%

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$19.9 $19.9

-38.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,252 $1,252

$3,206 $3,206

-60.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$56.5K $56.5K

-55.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$65.7 $65.7

2.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$48.75 $48.75

-2.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$111 $111

-11.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$172 $172

-32.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 $1,227

$4,165 $4,165

-70.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 $1,105

$2,653 $2,653

-58.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,402 $2,402

$8,412 $8,412

-71.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 $1,549

$5,277 $5,277

-70.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,842 $3,842

$15.6K $15.6K

-75.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,800 $1,800

$11.2K $11.2K

-83.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,808 $3,808

$5,616 $5,616

-32.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.44

-0.16%

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

Last update for Iowa City, IA: October 29, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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