Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Rapid City, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Rapid City, SD

😐 Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 8.8% more expensive than Rapid City, SD without rent, and 0.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 6.5% more expensive than Rapid City, SD without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$15.25 $15.25

0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$63.3 $63.3

19.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 $8.76

$10.36 $10.36

-15.44%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.45 $5.45

-3.49%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$3.66 $3.66

-34.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.62 $1.62

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.68 $3.68

37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$5.09 $5.09

39.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.91 $2.91

-5.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.99 $1.99

138.19%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$4.37 $4.37

-6.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 $9.32

$13.46 $13.46

-30.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 $10.46

$9.4 $9.4

11.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$12.91 $12.91

29.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.78 $4.78

-31.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.57 $1.57

-26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.92 $3.92

-29.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.93 $3.93

18.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.85 $2.85

-28.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.12 $3.12

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.18 $2.18

-7.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.82 $2.82

-30.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 $9.21

$9.7 $9.7

-5.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.1 $12.1

$13.81 $13.81

-12.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.71 $1.71

2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.97 $4.97

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.52 $1.52

32.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.78 $15.78

$29.83 $29.83

-47.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.24 $3.24

40.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.21 $1.21

83.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.62 $42.62

$25.39 $25.39

67.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.91 $0.91

-8.79%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$34.8K $34.8K

-28.45%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.3K $32.3K

-21.21%

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

$219 $219

$173 $173

27.06%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$42.7 $42.7

17.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.8 $73.8

$57.1 $57.1

29.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.89 $48.89

$50.4 $50.4

-2.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.26 $20.26

$15.22 $15.22

33.11%

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$12.2 $12.2

0.08%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$699 $699

79.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.1K $23.1K

7.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$61.1 $61.1

9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$74.3 $74.3

-35.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$77.5 $77.5

26.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$112 $112

3.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 $1,227

$1,050 $1,050

16.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 $1,105

$1,123 $1,123

-1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,402 $2,402

$1,561 $1,561

53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 $1,549

$1,708 $1,708

-9.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,842 $3,842

$2,552 $2,552

50.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,800 $1,800

$2,594 $2,594

-30.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,808 $3,808

$3,891 $3,891

-2.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.41

0.31%

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 Rapid City, SD: October 28, 2025

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