Cost of Living in Iowa City, IA
| Cost of Living in Iowa City, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 6% higher | 23% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 7% lower | 18% lower |
| Food | 0% | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 337% higher | 313% higher |
| Transportation | 12% higher | 13% higher |
| Goods & Services | 40% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Iowa City, IA is 5% lower than the state average and 7% higher than the national average. Iowa City, IA housing is 23% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 18% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% cheaper in Iowa City, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 313% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% cheaper in Iowa City, IA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Iowa City is $1,481, while home prices circle around $398,206.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Iowa City, energy bills cost around $154.03 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.62 in Iowa City, a dozen eggs go for around $4.20 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.84.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Iowa City, an optometry check-up costs around $133.93, while a dentist appointment is priced $93.67 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.72 in Iowa City, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $73.64.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $41.73 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $30.88.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Iowa City, you should budget around $12.01 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.43, while dry cleaning costs about $13.80.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Iowa City, the median household income is $57,533.