2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palm Desert, CA vs Iowa City, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa City or is it cheaper to live in Palm Desert?
- Iowa City is 31.7% less expensive than Palm Desert.

Which city has more affordable housing, Iowa City or Palm Desert?
- Iowa City housing costs are 49.7% less expensive than Palm Desert housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palm Desert or is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City.
- Health related expenses are 19.1% more in Iowa City.
 Palm Desert, CAIowa City, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock89.6100
 Food & Groceries99.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock104.0100
 Housing156.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$265,800$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock68.5100
 Miscellaneous112.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Palm Desert    14 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert, CA is full of rude people. One woman in a long sleeved pink shirt is being extremely rude and mocking people for no reason at a neighborhood Walmart in Palm  More

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Palm Desert is clean, upscale and beautiful. The views of the Santa Rosa Mountains bright blue sky and green expanses of golf course fairways, swimming pools and  More

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I made the mistake of moving here after a short vacation to be closer to family. Biggest mistake of my life! This is not the place to live if health is important to you.  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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