Cost of living in Des Moines, IA

Everyday prices in Des Moines run 8.3% below the US average. The typical home lists for $339,996, about $1,868 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,184 a month.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

8% cheaperEveryday prices¹Than the US average
$339,996Typical home^2,3$1,868/mo mortgage
$1,1842-bedroom rent⁴A month, utilities in
21 minAverage commute⁷Each way

Rent in Des Moines

Median rent by size, utilities included, next to the US. Full rent breakdown⁴

Studio$1,019/mo
Des Moines
$1,019
US
$1,365
Income to keep it at 30%: $40,760⁵
1 bedroom$1,077/mo
Des Moines
$1,077
US
$1,362
Income to keep it at 30%: $43,080⁵
2 bedrooms$1,184/mo
Des Moines
$1,184
US
$1,563
Income to keep it at 30%: $47,360⁵
3 bedrooms$1,509/mo
Des Moines
$1,509
US
$1,760
Income to keep it at 30%: $60,360⁵
4 bedrooms$2,016/mo
Des Moines
$2,016
US
$2,153
Income to keep it at 30%: $80,640⁵

What it takes to live in Des Moines

Matches $100,000 at US prices¹$91,701
Typical household income⁶$88,343US: $84,780
Housing costs¹15% cheaperThan the US average

Compare Des Moines with any other city

Places that cost less than Des Moines

The same typical home costs less each month in 22 of the cities we cover. The biggest and smallest gaps:^2,3

All 54 cities, cheapest first

Des Moines cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA?

Everyday prices in Des Moines run 8.3% below the US average. The typical home lists for $339,996, about $1,868 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,184 a month.

How much is rent in Des Moines?

The median rent, utilities included, is $1,077 a month for a 1-bedroom and $1,184 for a 2-bedroom (Census ACS, 2025). Keeping a 2-bedroom at 30% of income takes about $47,360 a year.

What salary in Des Moines matches $100,000 elsewhere in the US?

About $91,701 buys what $100,000 buys at US-average prices, using BEA regional price parities for 2024.

What is the typical household income in Des Moines?

$88,343 a year, against $84,780 for the US (Census ACS, 2025).

Where can I live for less than Des Moines?

Of the cities we cover, Muncie, IN ($871 a month less on the typical home), Terre Haute, IN ($826 a month less on the typical home), Paducah, KY ($525 a month less on the typical home).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices and housing costs: BEA regional price parities, 2024, where the US average is 100.
2Typical home: the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B25031, median gross rent by number of bedrooms (rent plus utilities the renter pays), 2025. $3,500+ is the highest figure the Census publishes. Census table
5Income to keep rent at 30%: a year of rent divided by 0.3, the common rule of thumb. Our arithmetic.
6Household income: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B19013, median household income, 2025. Census table
7Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table

Sources for this page