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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,352 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,249 in Iowa City, IA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,146 in Iowa City, IA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Iowa City, IA costs roughly 35% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iowa City, IA 76% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.95 $14.95

$24.80 $24.80

-39.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 $76.5

$118 $118

-35.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 $9.16

$13.77 $13.77

-33.48%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.71 $5.71

-10.16%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$3.05 $3.05

-19.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.50 $2.50

-26.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$7.83 $7.83

-36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.88 $7.88

-12.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.35 $1.35

-37.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 $2.74

$5.06 $5.06

-45.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.39 $5.39

-7.98%

Eggs

$3.93 $3.93

$6.85 $6.85

-42.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 $9.29

$25.07 $25.07

-62.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$15.85 $15.85

-33.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.28 $16.28

$20.59 $20.59

-20.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$6.14 $6.14

-46.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$2.82 $2.82

-57.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$5.51 $5.51

-49.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$6.74 $6.74

-30.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.15 $3.15

-34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.82 $3.82

-26.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.69 $2.69

-26.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.64 $2.64

-23.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.18 $9.18

$11.65 $11.65

-21.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.80 $15.80

$15.69 $15.69

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.93 $2.93

-39.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.24 $4.24

13.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.82 $2.82

-29.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.14 $16.14

$100 $100

-83.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.60 $2.60

74.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.72 $1.72

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$30.22 $30.22

36.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.19 $1.19

-27.73%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.7K $32.7K

-22.11%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.74%

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

$221 $221

$263 $263

-15.67%

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

$49.98 $49.98

$60.9 $60.9

-17.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$75.9 $75.9

-2.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.34 $49.34

$79.6 $79.6

-38.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 $20.02

$39.89 $39.89

-49.81%

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$16.27 $16.27

-25.57%

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

$1,262 $1,262

$2,281 $2,281

-44.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-16.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$68.6 $68.6

-1.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.90 $47.90

$52.0 $52.0

-7.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$116 $116

-12.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$143 $143

-19.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 $1,236

$2,336 $2,336

-47.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 $1,087

$1,863 $1,863

-41.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 $2,380

$4,628 $4,628

-48.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 $1,530

$3,477 $3,477

-55.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,800 $3,800

$7,766 $7,766

-51.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,920 $1,920

$5,232 $5,232

-63.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,641 $3,641

$6,617 $6,617

-44.97%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,236 in Iowa City, IA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Iowa City, IA vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $547 per month, with Iowa City, IA cheaper across the board.

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iowa City, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 82% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,236 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Iowa City, IA runs roughly 521% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,262 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,281 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,352 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Iowa City, IA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Iowa City, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Iowa City, IA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Iowa City, IA and Seattle, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Iowa City, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.