2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Iowa City, IA vs Appleton, WI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Appleton or is it cheaper to live in Iowa City?
- Appleton is 1.7% less expensive than Iowa City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Appleton or Iowa City?
- Appleton housing costs are 11.6% less expensive than Iowa City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City or is Health Care more affordable in Appleton.
- Health related expenses are 8.4% less in Appleton.
 Iowa City, IAAppleton, WIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.1100
 Food & Groceries99.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock95.3100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$222,800$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock74.1100
 Miscellaneous117.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Appleton    23 Reviews

Just to clarify my earlier review, the people are generally unfriendly, except the overweight women( 90% of women here) are friendly. Tailgatings on 1-41 an 441 is very  More

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Over 7 years ago

Women here are very heavy. People are rude here, will cut you off in public and not say a word. People at the gym walk in and do not even look at you, even though you  More

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Over 8 years ago

Something is happening in Appleton. The place used to be called the shopping capital of Wisco. But, slowly this rather commercial-sounding moniker is being replaced by  More

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