Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
91.7
U.S. average = 100 · #252 of 387
Median wage
$51,820
all jobs · $3,542/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,092
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Des Moines, IA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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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.
Take-home pay in Des Moines, IA
Your take-home pay
$42,500
per year · effective tax rate 18.0%
$3,542Monthly
$1,771Twice a month
$1,635Every 2 weeks
$20.43Hourly
- 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.
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.
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.
All salaries in Des Moines, IA
Management Occupations
- Chief Executive — $239,200+
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $164,840
- Financial Manager — $154,140
- Managers, All Other — $139,110
- Human Resources Manager — $138,140
- Sales Manager — $136,570
- Marketing Manager — $135,140
- Administrative Services Manager — $126,190
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $117,980
- Industrial Production Manager — $107,550
- Construction Manager — $103,920
- Facilities Manager — $103,860
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $101,550
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $100,880
- General and Operations Manager — $98,780
- Social and Community Service Manager — $73,840
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — $60,600
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Loan Officer — $101,190
- Project Management Specialist — $101,150
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $98,490
- Personal Financial Advisor — $94,270
- Management Analyst — $90,730
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,540
- Financial Examiner — $85,450
- Compliance Officer — $84,590
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $80,340
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,290
- Insurance Underwriter — $79,230
- Cost Estimator — $78,500
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $77,990
- Logistician — $77,860
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $76,580
- Training and Development Specialist — $74,610
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $73,710
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $73,710
- Human Resources Specialist — $71,600
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $126,460
- Information Security Analyst — $123,740
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,490
- Computer Network Architect — $108,280
- Data Scientist — $103,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,070
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $98,190
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $89,800
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $62,050
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,450
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $98,270
- Civil Engineer — $97,330
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $61,320
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $57,580
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $56,280
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $46,200
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $45,760
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $134,560
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $60,080
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Instructional Coordinator — $76,600
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,480
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,650
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,980
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $60,310
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $59,780
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $37,750
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $34,880
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,620
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $33,850
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $70,660
- Graphic Designer — $56,520
- Coach and Scout — $46,710
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $43,320
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $141,110
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,230
- Physical Therapist — $97,790
- Dental Hygienist — $93,660
- Registered Nurse — $78,630
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $67,640
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,670
- Medical Records Specialist — $54,270
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $50,240
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $49,960
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,620
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $50,020
- Medical Assistant — $46,920
- Nursing Assistant — $43,940
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $36,350
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $81,810
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $63,230
- Firefighter — $56,910
- Security Guard — $37,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Chef and Head Cook — $51,210
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,790
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,120
- Dishwasher — $30,450
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,270
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,730
- Bartender — $22,340
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,410
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers — $47,600
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $45,180
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,000
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $34,360
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $38,700
- Recreation Worker — $36,150
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $35,640
- Animal Caretaker — $30,950
- Childcare Worker — $29,760
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $27,860
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $126,830
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $98,590
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $67,040
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $65,670
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $65,510
- Insurance Sales Agent — $61,140
- Parts Salesperson — $48,850
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,800
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $38,920
- Retail Salesperson — $33,430
- Cashier — $29,640
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,690
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $66,710
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $64,990
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $63,650
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $60,530
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,320
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk — $52,970
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,610
- Customer Service Representative — $48,880
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $47,990
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,500
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $47,300
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $46,770
- Office Clerks, General — $46,540
- Teller — $45,450
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $44,730
- Data Entry Keyer — $42,580
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $42,160
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $37,910
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks — $34,180
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $75,040
- Electrician — $62,840
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,610
- Carpenter — $61,360
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,900
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,700
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,410
- Construction Laborer — $49,980
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $79,230
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $66,920
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $65,810
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $63,590
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $62,640
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $61,630
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $60,470
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer — $58,210
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $50,780
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $49,060
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,150
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $59,980
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $51,100
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,850
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,700
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,880
- Food Batchmaker — $47,010
- Printing Press Operator — $43,450
- Production Workers, All Other — $40,660
- Baker — $37,680
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $36,770
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $34,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,340
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,720
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $56,990
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,370
- Driver/Sales Worker — $46,330
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,210
- Light Truck Driver — $43,200
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,540
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $36,770
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $34,680