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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 38.8% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 57.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 38.6% more expensive than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 83% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$15.27 $15.27

64.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.8 $75.8

56.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.76 $8.76

57.99%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.26 $5.26

10.27%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.38 $2.38

23.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.79 $1.79

40.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$5.05 $5.05

54.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.11 $7.11

10.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.87 $0.87

54.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$2.75 $2.75

81.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.74 $4.74

12.87%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.09 $4.09

68.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$9.32 $9.32

166.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$10.46 $10.46

50.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$16.66 $16.66

25.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$3.29 $3.29

83.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.16 $1.16

137.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$2.76 $2.76

98.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.64 $4.64

39.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.05 $2.05

51.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.86 $2.86

29.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.01 $2.01

38.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.97 $1.97

27.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.21 $9.21

26.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$12.1 $12.1

41.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.76 $1.76

67.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.69 $4.69

-10.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.02 $2.02

38.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$15.78 $15.78

539.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.54 $4.54

-40.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.22 $2.22

-25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$42.62 $42.62

-29.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.83 $0.83

39.76%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

33.79%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.18%

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

$271 $271

$219 $219

23.49%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$50.2 $50.2

23.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$73.8 $73.8

1.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$48.89 $48.89

60.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$20.26 $20.26

102.57%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$12.21 $12.21

30.14%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,252 $1,252

79.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$24.9K $24.9K

16.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$67.1 $67.1

3.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$47.76 $47.76

9.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$98.3 $98.3

21.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$116 $116

22.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$1,227 $1,227

93.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,105 $1,105

65.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$2,402 $2,402

95.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$1,549 $1,549

124.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$3,842 $3,842

80.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$1,800 $1,800

190.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,808 $3,808

69.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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

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