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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,344 in Iowa City, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,313 in Iowa City, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,282 in Iowa City, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than Iowa City, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Iowa City, IA 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$14.72 $14.72

71.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$75.6 $75.6

58.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$8.85 $8.85

55.82%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.06 $5.06

10.87%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.39 $2.39

25.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.79 $1.79

39.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.07 $5.07

54.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.13 $7.13

11.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.87 $0.87

56.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.66 $2.66

82.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.80 $4.80

10.62%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.01 $4.01

64.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$9.07 $9.07

169.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$10.55 $10.55

51.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$16.60 $16.60

23.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.42 $3.42

78.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.16 $1.16

148.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.71 $2.71

105.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.76 $4.76

41.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.03 $2.03

57.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.91 $2.91

30.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.99 $1.99

36.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.99 $1.99

31.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$9.17 $9.17

27.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$15.47 $15.47

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.69 $1.69

68.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.85 $4.85

-9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$16.17 $16.17

511.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.41 $4.41

-40.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.11 $2.11

-21.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$42.23 $42.23

-29.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

28.97%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.29%

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

$264 $264

$214 $214

23.41%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$50.4 $50.4

20.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$75.8 $75.8

0.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$50.1 $50.1

55.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

$20.21 $20.21

97.97%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$12.22 $12.22

32.49%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,243 $1,243

81.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

18.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$66.9 $66.9

5.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$47.76 $47.76

8.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$99.3 $99.3

19.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$117 $117

21.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,210 $1,210

96.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,093 $1,093

72.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,426 $2,426

95.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$1,538 $1,538

133.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$3,818 $3,818

105.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,907 $1,907

173.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,581 $3,581

80.03%

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: April 13, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,210 in Iowa City, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 80% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $76 in Iowa City, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $352 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

Seattle, WA vs Iowa City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iowa City, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 80% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,210 in Iowa City, IA. 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 511% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $1,243 in Iowa City, IA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,344 in Iowa City, IA versus $3,539 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, Seattle, WA and Iowa City, IA 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 51% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.