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: $2,383 in Iowa City, IA versus $1,848 in Toledo, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,323 in Iowa City, IA versus $2,865 in Toledo, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,263 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,881 in Toledo, OH.

Living in Iowa City, IA is roughly 29% more expensive than in Toledo, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iowa City, IA 73% above, Toledo, OH 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.96 $13.96

$19.67 $19.67

-29.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$64.7 $64.7

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.06 $9.06

$9.87 $9.87

-8.21%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.46 $5.46

4.95%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.14 $2.14

30.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.59 $1.59

35.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$5.05 $5.05

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.89 $4.89

40.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.95 $0.95

-7.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.28 $3.28

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.19 $4.19

15.27%

Eggs

$3.41 $3.41

$3.21 $3.21

6.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 $9.35

$11.06 $11.06

-15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 $10.37

$10.05 $10.05

3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.06 $20.06

$16.48 $16.48

21.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.28 $3.28

4.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.48 $1.48

-20.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.45 $4.45

-37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.80 $3.80

30.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.65 $2.65

-23.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.97 $1.97

53.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.60 $2.60

-21.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.27 $2.27

2.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.96 $8.96

$9.86 $9.86

-9.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$13.58 $13.58

16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.00 $2.00

-15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.13 $3.13

42.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.77 $15.77

$58.0 $58.0

-72.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.57 $2.57

57.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.48 $2.48

-21.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.15 $44.15

$40.53 $40.53

8.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.97 $0.97

-5.15%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.26%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

-1.20%

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

$268 $268

$178 $178

50.21%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$60.1 $60.1

-12.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.4 $83.4

$65.8 $65.8

26.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.64 $49.64

$31.53 $31.53

57.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.11 $20.11

$19.75 $19.75

1.82%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 $13.41

$11.78 $11.78

13.84%

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

$1,245 $1,245

$1,712 $1,712

-27.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$14.5K $14.5K

63.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$44.82 $44.82

40.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$40.08 $40.08

25.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$73.0 $73.0

36.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$78.6 $78.6

44.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$893 $893

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 $1,080

$682 $682

58.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$1,290 $1,290

73.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$1,227 $1,227

21.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 $3,833

$1,537 $1,537

149.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,565 $1,565

22.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,649 $3,649

$3,201 $3,201

14.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

5.98

4.68%

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

Last update for Iowa City, IA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Toledo, OH: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,182 in Iowa City, IA and $893 in Toledo, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iowa City, IA pays 14% 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: $66.0 in Iowa City, IA vs $65.0 in Toledo, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $360 per month, with Toledo, OH 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 Toledo, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Iowa City, IA, 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: $1,182 in Iowa City, IA versus $893 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 268% less than in Iowa City, IA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,245 in Iowa City, IA versus $1,712 in Toledo, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,848 in Toledo, OH versus $2,383 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 29% less than in Iowa City, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.