Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Des Moines, IA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Des Moines, IA?
With a price level of 91.7 (U.S. average = 100), Des Moines, IA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 15% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 15% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Des Moines, IA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.7 | −8.3% |
| Housing | 84.7 | −15.3% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 84.6 | −15.4% |
| Other services | 92.9 | −7.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Des Moines, IA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,048 | $41,920/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,092 | $43,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,302 | $52,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,770 | $70,800/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,816 | $72,640/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Des Moines, IA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Des Moines, IA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,700 | $30,926 |
| $60,000 | $55,000 | $44,934 |
| $80,000 | $73,400 | $58,330 |
| $100,000 | $91,700 | $70,508 |
| $150,000 | $137,600 | $100,739 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Iowa 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Des Moines, IA's median wage of $51,820 takes home about $3,542 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,092, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,450 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Des Moines, IA
- Federal income tax$4,038
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,213
- Medicare (1.45%)$751
- Iowa income tax$1,317
- Take-home pay$42,500
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines, IA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Iowa cities
Half of Iowa’s 1,559,240 workers earn less than $48,540 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,570–$70,290 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Ames, IA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $49,660 | 91.9 | $1,144 | 34% | $2,260 | $44,441 |
| Des Moines, IA | $51,820 | 91.7 | $1,092 | 31% | $2,450 | $46,346 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,550 | 89.1 | $928 | 28% | $2,405 | $44,900 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,360 | 89.0 | $800 | 24% | $2,585 | $45,656 |
| Iowa City, IA | $50,060 | 91.5 | $932 | 27% | $2,497 | $44,971 |
| Waterloo, IA | $47,430 | 87.1 | $793 | 24% | $2,469 | $44,958 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 29% | $2,311 | $44,918 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,750 | 87.3 | $841 | 25% | $2,505 | $45,976 |
| Ames, IA | $50,220 | 88.8 | $975 | 28% | $2,465 | $46,465 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Des Moines, IA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | $51,820 | 404,130 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 106.9 | $2,100 | $61,470 | 404,180 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 95.5 | $1,185 | $48,060 | 404,700 |
| Madison, WI | 97.3 | $1,377 | $58,080 | 408,070 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90.8 | $1,048 | $48,710 | 409,690 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | $1,139 | $46,430 | 394,200 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Des Moines, IA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area are 91.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 84.7%. It is the #252 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Des Moines, IA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,021 in Des Moines, IA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,820.
Can you afford Des Moines, IA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $51,820 median wage takes home about $3,542 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,092 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Des Moines, IA are $1,048 for a studio, $1,092 for one bedroom, $1,302 for two bedrooms and $1,770 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Des Moines, IA
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $154,140
- General and Operations Manager — $98,780
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $101,150
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,540
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,290
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $76,580
- Human Resources Specialist — $71,600
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $126,460
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,070
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,480
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,650
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,620
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $78,630
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $43,940
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $36,350
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $37,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,410
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,040
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $65,510
- Insurance Sales Agent — $61,140
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,800
- Retail Salesperson — $33,430
- Cashier — $29,640
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,690
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,610
- Customer Service Representative — $48,880
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,500
- Office Clerks, General — $46,540
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $42,160
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,090
- Electrician — $62,840
- Construction Laborer — $49,980
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $50,780
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,880
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,720
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,370
- Light Truck Driver — $43,200
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800