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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Toledo, OH costs roughly 20% less than in Iowa City, IA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$14.72 $14.72

34.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.0 $65.0

$75.6 $75.6

-14.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$8.85 $8.85

13.79%

Cappuccino

$4.35 $4.35

$5.06 $5.06

-14.03%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$2.39 $2.39

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.79 $1.79

-25.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.07 $5.07

-3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.13 $7.13

-28.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.87 $0.87

-5.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.66 $2.66

9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.80 $4.80

-15.63%

Eggs

$2.68 $2.68

$4.01 $4.01

-33.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$9.07 $9.07

35.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$10.55 $10.55

7.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$16.60 $16.60

-8.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.42 $3.42

11.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.16 $1.16

60.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.71 $2.71

25.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.76 $4.76

-19.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.03 $2.03

13.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.91 $2.91

-30.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.99 $1.99

24.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.99 $1.99

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.06 $10.06

$9.17 $9.17

9.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.48 $13.48

$15.47 $15.47

-12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.69 $1.69

13.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 $3.20

$4.85 $4.85

-34.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.05 $2.05

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.4 $58.4

$16.17 $16.17

260.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.41 $4.41

-41.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.11 $2.11

15.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.43 $40.43

$42.23 $42.23

-4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.86 $0.86

-5.81%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

16.44%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.17%

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

$200 $200

$214 $214

-6.46%

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

$49.36 $49.36

$50.4 $50.4

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.0 $75.0

$75.8 $75.8

-1.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.32 $31.32

$50.1 $50.1

-37.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.77 $19.77

$20.21 $20.21

-2.18%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 $10.94

$12.22 $12.22

-10.47%

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

$1,477 $1,477

$1,243 $1,243

18.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K $14.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

-42.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.48 $43.48

$66.9 $66.9

-35.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.62 $39.62

$47.76 $47.76

-17.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$99.3 $99.3

-29.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 $66.9

$117 $117

-42.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 $842

$1,210 $1,210

-30.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 $654

$1,093 $1,093

-40.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$2,426 $2,426

-38.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 $1,296

$1,538 $1,538

-15.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,579 $1,579

$3,818 $3,818

-58.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,567 $1,567

$1,907 $1,907

-17.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,278 $3,278

$3,581 $3,581

-8.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.43

1.24%

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

Last update for Toledo, OH: April 11, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Toledo, OH and $1,210 in Iowa City, IA. 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: $65 in Toledo, OH vs $76 in Iowa City, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $352, 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

Toledo, OH vs Iowa City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Iowa City, IA earns 9% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $842 in Toledo, OH 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 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 $1,477 in Toledo, OH 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 $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, Toledo, OH 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 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.