Cost of living in Des Moines

Des Moines, United States is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $2512 for one person and $6146 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Des Moines compared to other cities?

Des Moines is 76% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Des Moines compare to your city?

Des Moines is 33% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Des Moines is, on average, 18% higher than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Des Moines?

Who is Des Moines a good fit for?

Des Moines is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Des Moines so expensive?

The primary driver of high costs in Des Moines is rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall living expenses.

Is food expensive in Des Moines?

Yes, food prices in Des Moines are 38% higher compared to the European benchmark.

Is public transport affordable in Des Moines?

Public transport is relatively affordable, being 15% lower than the European benchmark.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2512 $
Without Rent
902 $
Rent & Utilities
1611 $
Food
658 $
Transport
64 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4677 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
32.9K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 18.9 $
Dinner 79.5 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 11.8 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.43 $
Capuccino 4.97 $
Coke, 330ml 2.62 $

Compare Des Moines with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.11 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.86 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.36 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.94 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 14 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.9 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.11 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.79 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.72 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.93 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.92 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.29 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.6 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.65 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.83 $
Cigarette pack 10.7 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.86 $
Monthly Pass 78.7 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.12 $
Taxi, 8 km 16.6 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 156 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 11.3 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.25 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 5.2 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.5 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 126 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 196 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 66.4 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,384 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,589 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,557 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,909 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 5,3 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 3,892 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,677 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.55%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 45.9 $
Cinema, 1 seat 15.1 $
Haircut 20.3 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 88.2 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 51.5 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,867 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 27,501 $

Compare Des Moines with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Des Moines vs George Town (George Town is 45% more expensive)
Bahamas
Des Moines vs Nassau (Nassau is 10% more expensive) Des Moines vs Freeport (Freeport is 13% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Des Moines vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 6% less expensive) Des Moines vs Luganville (Luganville is 22% more expensive)
United States
Des Moines vs New York City (New York City is 61% more expensive) Des Moines vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 27% more expensive) Des Moines vs Chicago (Chicago is 6% more expensive) Des Moines vs Houston (Houston is 11% less expensive) Des Moines vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 6% less expensive) Des Moines vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 1% more expensive) Des Moines vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 13% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Diego (San Diego is 33% more expensive) Des Moines vs Dallas (Dallas is 2% more expensive) Des Moines vs San Jose (San Jose is 46% more expensive)
Canada
Des Moines vs Toronto (Toronto is 3% more expensive) Des Moines vs Montreal (Montreal is 22% less expensive) Des Moines vs Calgary (Calgary is 14% less expensive) Des Moines vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 11% less expensive) Des Moines vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 29% less expensive) Des Moines vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 30% less expensive) Des Moines vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 2% less expensive) Des Moines vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 5% more expensive) Des Moines vs Brampton (Brampton is 15% less expensive) Des Moines vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 14% less expensive)
Barbados
Des Moines vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 46% less expensive) Des Moines vs Holetown (Holetown is 45% less expensive)
Panama
Des Moines vs Panama City (Panama City is 45% less expensive) Des Moines vs Colon (Colon is 53% less expensive) Des Moines vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 51% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 58% less expensive) Des Moines vs David (David is 67% less expensive) Des Moines vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 62% less expensive) Des Moines vs Balboa (Balboa is 50% less expensive) Des Moines vs Pacora (Pacora is 50% less expensive) Des Moines vs Chitre (Chitre is 57% less expensive) Des Moines vs Penonome (Penonome is 56% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Des Moines vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 51% less expensive) Des Moines vs Cayon (Cayon is 51% less expensive)
Cuba
Des Moines vs Havana (Havana is 59% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 44% less expensive) Des Moines vs Holguin (Holguin is 49% less expensive) Des Moines vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 39% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 58% less expensive) Des Moines vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 54% less expensive) Des Moines vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 38% less expensive) Des Moines vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 38% less expensive) Des Moines vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 56% less expensive) Des Moines vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 65% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Des Moines vs San Jose (San Jose is 51% less expensive) Des Moines vs Limon (Limon is 52% less expensive) Des Moines vs Liberia (Liberia is 64% less expensive) Des Moines vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 51% less expensive) Des Moines vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 49% less expensive) Des Moines vs Cartago (Cartago is 62% less expensive) Des Moines vs Heredia (Heredia is 50% less expensive) Des Moines vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 33% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 48% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Des Moines vs Castries (Castries is 54% less expensive) Des Moines vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 52% less expensive)
Jamaica
Des Moines vs Kingston (Kingston is 47% less expensive) Des Moines vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 69% less expensive) Des Moines vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 59% less expensive) Des Moines vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 54% less expensive) Des Moines vs May Pen (May Pen is 67% less expensive) Des Moines vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 61% less expensive) Des Moines vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 66% less expensive) Des Moines vs Linstead (Linstead is 58% less expensive) Des Moines vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 55% less expensive) Des Moines vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 54% less expensive)
El Salvador
Des Moines vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 53% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 72% less expensive) Des Moines vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 53% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 57% less expensive) Des Moines vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 54% less expensive) Des Moines vs Apopa (Apopa is 54% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 52% less expensive) Des Moines vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 42% less expensive) Des Moines vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 57% less expensive) Des Moines vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 65% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Des Moines vs St. John's (St. John's is 57% less expensive) Des Moines vs All Saints (All Saints is 57% less expensive)
Grenada
Des Moines vs St. George's (St. George's is 58% less expensive) Des Moines vs Grenville (Grenville is 58% less expensive)
Dominica
Des Moines vs Roseau (Roseau is 60% less expensive) Des Moines vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 55% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Des Moines vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 61% less expensive) Des Moines vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 60% less expensive)
Belize
Des Moines vs Belize City (Belize City is 65% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 57% less expensive) Des Moines vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 71% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 47% less expensive) Des Moines vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 37% less expensive)
Guatemala
Des Moines vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 60% less expensive) Des Moines vs Mixco (Mixco is 75% less expensive) Des Moines vs Coban (Coban is 64% less expensive) Des Moines vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 69% less expensive) Des Moines vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 64% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 64% less expensive) Des Moines vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 65% less expensive) Des Moines vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 65% less expensive) Des Moines vs Flores (Flores is 66% less expensive) Des Moines vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 69% less expensive)
Honduras
Des Moines vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 67% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 59% less expensive) Des Moines vs Choloma (Choloma is 76% less expensive) Des Moines vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 74% less expensive) Des Moines vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 65% less expensive) Des Moines vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 66% less expensive) Des Moines vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 72% less expensive) Des Moines vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 71% less expensive) Des Moines vs Yoro (Yoro is 71% less expensive) Des Moines vs La Lima (La Lima is 65% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Des Moines vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 68% less expensive) Des Moines vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 58% less expensive) Des Moines vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 70% less expensive) Des Moines vs Higuey (Higuey is 69% less expensive) Des Moines vs La Vega (La Vega is 77% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 67% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 71% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 79% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 75% less expensive) Des Moines vs Bonao (Bonao is 78% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Des Moines vs Managua (Managua is 69% less expensive) Des Moines vs Leon (Leon is 75% less expensive) Des Moines vs Masaya (Masaya is 72% less expensive) Des Moines vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 78% less expensive) Des Moines vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 75% less expensive) Des Moines vs Esteli (Esteli is 76% less expensive) Des Moines vs Granada (Granada is 72% less expensive) Des Moines vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 82% less expensive) Des Moines vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 74% less expensive) Des Moines vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 65% less expensive)