Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Toledo, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Toledo, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Iowa City, IA versus $1,869 in Toledo, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,313 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,870 in Toledo, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,282 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,871 in Toledo, OH.

Living in Iowa City, IA is roughly 25% more expensive than Toledo, OH, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iowa City, IA 74% above, Toledo, OH 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$19.87 $19.87

-25.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$65.0 $65.0

16.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 $8.85

$10.07 $10.07

-12.12%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$4.35 $4.35

16.32%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.28 $2.28

4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.34 $1.34

33.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.89 $4.89

3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$5.09 $5.09

40.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.82 $0.82

6.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.91 $2.91

-8.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.05 $4.05

18.52%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$2.68 $2.68

49.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 $9.07

$12.28 $12.28

-26.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$11.39 $11.39

-7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$15.14 $15.14

9.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.83 $3.83

-10.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.86 $1.86

-37.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.39 $3.39

-20.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.81 $3.81

24.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.30 $2.30

-11.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.03 $2.03

43.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.47 $2.47

-19.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.13 $2.13

-6.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 $9.17

$10.06 $10.06

-8.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.47 $15.47

$13.48 $13.48

14.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.92 $1.92

-11.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.20 $3.20

51.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.23 $1.23

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.17 $16.17

$58.4 $58.4

-72.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.56 $2.56

72.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.43 $2.43

-13.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.23 $42.23

$40.43 $40.43

4.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.81 $0.81

6.17%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

-14.12%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.07%

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

$214 $214

$200 $200

6.90%

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

$50.4 $50.4

$49.36 $49.36

2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$75.0 $75.0

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 $50.1

$31.32 $31.32

59.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.77 $19.77

2.23%

Cinema Ticket

$12.22 $12.22

$10.94 $10.94

11.70%

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

$1,243 $1,243

$1,477 $1,477

-15.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K $25.1K

$14.5K $14.5K

73.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 $66.9

$43.48 $43.48

53.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$39.62 $39.62

20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 $99.3

$70.2 $70.2

41.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$66.9 $66.9

74.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,210 $1,210

$842 $842

43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 $1,093

$654 $654

66.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$1,489 $1,489

62.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$1,296 $1,296

18.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,818 $3,818

$1,579 $1,579

141.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,567 $1,567

21.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,581 $3,581

$3,278 $3,278

9.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.51

-1.23%

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

Last update for Iowa City, IA: April 12, 2026

Last update for Toledo, OH: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,210 in Iowa City, IA and $842 in Toledo, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iowa City, IA pays 9% 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 in Iowa City, IA vs $65 in Toledo, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $356, with Iowa City, IA 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 Toledo, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iowa City, IA pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,210 in Iowa City, IA versus $842 in Toledo, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Toledo, OH runs roughly 261% less than in Iowa City, IA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,243 in Iowa City, IA versus $1,477 in Toledo, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,869 in Toledo, OH versus $2,344 in Iowa City, IA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Toledo, OH but tight or insufficient in Iowa City, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Toledo, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Iowa City, IA and Toledo, OH 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 Toledo, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Iowa City, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.