Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Iowa City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Iowa City, IA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 56.6% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 93.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 55.8% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 134.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$15.27 $15.27

94.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$75.8 $75.8

90.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$8.76 $8.76

41.89%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.26 $5.26

11.03%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.38 $2.38

36.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.79 $1.79

44.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$5.05 $5.05

63.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.11 $7.11

66.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.87 $0.87

79.31%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$2.75 $2.75

90.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$4.74 $4.74

71.10%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.09 $4.09

77.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$9.32 $9.32

83.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$10.46 $10.46

55.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$16.66 $16.66

20.17%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$3.29 $3.29

127.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.16 $1.16

119.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.76 $2.76

110.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.64 $4.64

40.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.05 $2.05

81.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$2.86 $2.86

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.01 $2.01

52.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.97 $1.97

30.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$9.21 $9.21

108.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$12.1 $12.1

47.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.76 $1.76

71.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.69 $4.69

-20.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.02 $2.02

44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$15.78 $15.78

749.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.54 $4.54

13.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.22 $2.22

-3.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$42.62 $42.62

-2.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.83 $0.83

14.46%

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

$35K $35K

$24.9K $24.9K

40.64%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.79%

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

$179 $179

$219 $219

-18.62%

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

$60 $60

$50.2 $50.2

19.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$73.8 $73.8

-13.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$48.89 $48.89

187.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$20.26 $20.26

215.40%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$12.21 $12.21

62.98%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$1,252 $1,252

156.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

126.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$67.1 $67.1

-2.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$47.76 $47.76

2.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$98.3 $98.3

13.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$116 $116

48.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$1,227 $1,227

239.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,105 $1,105

140.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$2,402 $2,402

250.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$1,549 $1,549

240.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$3,842 $3,842

306.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$1,800 $1,800

519.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$3,808 $3,808

47.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.43

0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Iowa City, IA: October 29, 2025

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