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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carbondale or is it cheaper to live in Iowa City?
- Carbondale is 12.5% less expensive than Iowa City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carbondale or Iowa City?
- Carbondale housing costs are 44.6% less expensive than Iowa City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City or is Health Care more affordable in Carbondale.
- Health related expenses are 24.1% more in Carbondale.
 Iowa City, IACarbondale, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock78.4100
 Food & Groceries99.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock129.1100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$116,200$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock70.2100
 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 Carbondale    7 Reviews

I've lived in C'dale for over 30 years. I got an excellent education here - Giant City School was great, though fairly insular and not very diverse (among its drawbacks  More

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Over 17 years ago

I like Carbondale. It is relaxing and an easy way to go about getting a college degree. It has its ups and downs, mainly with the people in the town not recognizing the  More

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All of the comments are negative here and seem to me to be misleading. The idea that you have to have a lot of money in Carbondale is ridiculous. The price of cultural  More

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