Are you considering a move to Clear Lake, Iowa, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Clear Lake, Iowa is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Clear Lake, Iowa and help you understand whether $138 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $None.
|
Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
-- |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
-- |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
-- |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
-- |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
-- |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Water (12 oz small bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
-- |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
-- |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
-- |
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Potato (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Onion (1 lb) |
-- |
|
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
-- |
|
|
Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
-- |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
-- |
|
|
Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
-- |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
-- |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
-- |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
-- |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
-- |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
-- |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
-- |
|
|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
-- |
|
|
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
-- |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
-- |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
-- |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
-- |
|
|
Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
-- |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
-- |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
-- |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
-- |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
-- |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
-- |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
-- |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
-- |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
-- |
|
The monthly expenses for living in Clear Lake, Iowa come to a total of approximately $138. This includes an average monthly rent of around $0 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $0 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $0 per month.
Living in Clear Lake, Iowa appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $None. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Clear Lake, Iowa, you would likely need an income exceeding $None.
In Clear Lake, Iowa, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $None, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Clear Lake, Iowa is approximately $0. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $None for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Clear Lake, Iowa can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $0 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
There's a low overall risk, even when you figure out the crime rate per 100,000, as the FBI prefers for crime data. With that note, remember that in a city this small, a few crimes one way or the other can skew the "per 100,000 results," so we're going to stick to raw 2021 data that was just released.
You aren't going to get a lot of taxis or rideshares here, but the town is pretty walkable. Bicycling in Iowa is very popular, so you can rent a bike and ride around this easy-to-navigate city. The risk is low, even on a bike, as drivers are used to seeing cyclists on the road.
There's a low risk here of being pickpockets, but the theft was the largest per-crime category in the 2021 report with 118 thefts. That leads to a one in 65 risks of being a victim. Especially during popular events, you should navigate the crowds with your wallet hidden in a jacket pocket or front pants pocket and carry a small purse with only necessities.
There's a medium risk of severe weather throughout the year. Iowa gets thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail storms, and flooding during the warmer months. Winter brings snowstorms, ice storms, and extreme cold temperatures. Iowa was also hit by a derecho in 2020, which is a thunderstorm with prolonged extreme winds that were strong enough to flatten entire cornfields.
No robberies were reported in 2021. That's about as low of a risk as you can get. There is a growing drug problem across Iowa, so you still shouldn't let your guard down, as desperate drug users could resort to violence to feed their addiction. The Iowa Department of Health has an extensive plan to help addicts seeking help and help educate people about the dangers associated with the nationwide opioid crisis.
There's a low risk here. It's too small and too far from a big city to even register on any terrorist target list.
Clear Lake Bank & Trust offers a list of the common scams happening in the city and across Iowa. Most are the common phishing or scare-tactics scams that aren't unique to this area. The best advice I saw offered was "never pay upfront for a promise." That's the first sign you are about to be scammed.
Women should feel safe traveling here with low risk. There were five sexual assaults, which is a concerning number for a city this small. However, when visiting, you should know all the best ways to stay safe, like avoiding walking around at night.
The 2022 Annual Water Quality Report shows no violations and all water meets or exceeds the required standards. The only time you should worry about the water quality is if there is a flood happening while you are there.
You'll just need to show your visa when you go through Customs at the airport. You won't need to use it to travel between the cities of Iowa.
The U.S. Dollar (USD) is the only currency accepted here, and you'll need to bring some cash because some of the amenities, like that steamboat, are cash-only. Be sure to keep your cash in a safe spot until you need it, and try to avoid keeping it in all one place. A rubber band around your wallet can help avoid being pickpocketed due to the tension the band creates when it's being pulled out.
Winter weather doesn't stop Iowans from enjoying the outdoors, but you'll need to pack warm layers as if you were going to Alaska. It can just get that cold. Snowboots are a good idea too, but there won't be snow on the ground all winter long here. Summers will be hot and humid, and the bugs will be extensive in this lake town. Bring bug spray and re-apply often. Avoid flowery perfume that will attract bugs. A citrus-scented perfume or body wash helps keep bugs away too.
There is a small municipal airport in Mason City, which is actually closer to Clear Lake than Mason City. There are limited commercial flights here, but United is the airline that serves here. Both the Des Moines airport (DSM) and the Minneapolis St. Paul airport (MSP) are two hours away, with MSP being the larger of the two. There aren't shuttle services from Clear Lake, so you'll need a ride from a friend or a rental car.
It's smart to get travel insurance since the Midwest can get unpredictable weather. Just the other night, I watched a clear sky turn into a monster of a storm, halting air traffic here in Nebraksa, within an hour.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 25°F | 30°F | 43°F | 59°F | 71°F | 80°F | 83°F | 80°F | 73°F | 59°F | 43°F | 29°F |
| Temp | 17°F | 21°F | 33°F | 47°F | 59°F | 69°F | 72°F | 70°F | 61°F | 49°F | 34°F | 21°F |
| Low | 10°F | 15°F | 26°F | 38°F | 49°F | 59°F | 63°F | 60°F | 51°F | 39°F | 27°F | 14°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | -3°C | -1°C | 6°C | 15°C | 21°C | 26°C | 28°C | 26°C | 22°C | 15°C | 6°C | -1°C |
| Temp | -8°C | -6°C | 0°C | 8°C | 15°C | 20°C | 22°C | 21°C | 16°C | 9°C | 1°C | -6°C |
| Low | -12°C | -9°C | -3°C | 3°C | 9°C | 15°C | 17°C | 15°C | 10°C | 3°C | -2°C | -10°C |