Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 27.9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 36.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 27.8% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 45.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$25.11 $25.11

-39.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$118 $118

-35.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 $8.76

$13.84 $13.84

-36.71%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.8 $5.8

-9.31%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$2.95 $2.95

-19.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.51 $2.51

-28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$7.81 $7.81

-35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$7.84 $7.84

-9.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.34 $1.34

-35.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.98 $4.98

-44.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.35 $5.35

-11.40%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$6.91 $6.91

-40.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 $9.32

$24.8 $24.8

-62.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 $10.46

$15.74 $15.74

-33.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$20.84 $20.84

-20.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$6.05 $6.05

-45.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.75 $2.75

-57.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$5.47 $5.47

-49.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$6.45 $6.45

-28.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.11 $3.11

-34.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.69 $3.69

-22.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.78 $2.78

-27.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.52 $2.52

-21.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 $9.21

$11.64 $11.64

-20.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.1 $12.1

$17.15 $17.15

-29.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.94 $2.94

-40.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.19 $4.19

11.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.8 $2.8

-27.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.78 $15.78

$101 $101

-84.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.68 $2.68

69.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.65 $1.65

34.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.62 $42.62

$30.13 $30.13

41.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.16 $1.16

-28.45%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$33.3K $33.3K

-25.26%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-3.08%

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

$219 $219

$271 $271

-19.02%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$61.8 $61.8

-18.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.8 $73.8

$75.2 $75.2

-1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.89 $48.89

$78.4 $78.4

-37.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.26 $20.26

$41.04 $41.04

-50.63%

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$15.89 $15.89

-23.16%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$2,248 $2,248

-44.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$29K $29K

-14.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.5 $69.5

-3.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$52.5 $52.5

-9.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$120 $120

-17.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$142 $142

-18.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 $1,227

$2,376 $2,376

-48.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 $1,105

$1,829 $1,829

-39.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,402 $2,402

$4,702 $4,702

-48.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 $1,549

$3,474 $3,474

-55.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,842 $3,842

$6,928 $6,928

-44.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,800 $1,800

$5,224 $5,224

-65.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,808 $3,808

$6,473 $6,473

-41.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.42

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 Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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