2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Decatur, IL vs Iowa City, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa City or is it cheaper to live in Decatur?
- Iowa City is 22.9% more expensive than Decatur.

Which city has more affordable housing, Iowa City or Decatur?
- Iowa City housing costs are 239.2% more expensive than Decatur housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Decatur or is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City.
- Health related expenses are 6.3% less in Iowa City.
 Decatur, ILIowa City, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock89.6100
 Food & Groceries91.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock104.0100
 Housing23.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$265,800$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock68.5100
 Miscellaneous120.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Decatur    14 Reviews

I was sent here by the company I worked for in the '90's and was not initially impressed with midwest living. However, over the years I got used to living in the "Pride  More

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I grew up in Decatur and I still have family there, but it depresses me to see what it has become. It has a high unemployment rate, many business have closed or are run  More

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Over 14 years ago

If you enjoy drinking & driving, Decatur's fifteen drive-thru liquor windows, three times the # of drive-thru's than the ten largest cities in Illinois, COMBINED, will  More

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Reviews for Iowa City    24 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

I was there 5 years. Nothing to do but we’ll go shopping... at Walmart. It lacks so many things. There is no experience here, it jumps on any political band wagon and  More

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Over 5 years ago

Entertainment lacks greatly - especially the Hancher shows. I was hoping after they rebuilt they would be getting better shows there, that didn't happen. One has to  More

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Over 7 years ago

Iowa City is great. It's diverse and never boring. There always a variety of new shops and restaurants to explore and try out. Also watching college kids do stupid  More

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