Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA
| Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 21% lower | 36% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% lower | 20% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 16% lower | 12% lower |
| Transportation | 6% lower | 3% lower |
| Goods & Services | 4% lower | 7% lower |
The cost of living in Des Moines, IA is 9% lower than the state average and 15% lower than the national average. Des Moines, IA housing is 36% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 20% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% cheaper in Des Moines, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 12% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% cheaper in Des Moines, IA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Des Moines is $1,090, while home prices circle around $356,542.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Des Moines, energy bills cost around $148.46 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.65 in Des Moines, a dozen eggs go for around $4.31 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.37.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Des Moines, an optometry check-up costs around $112.25, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.91 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.13 in Des Moines, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $63.18.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $35.75 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.76.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Des Moines, you should budget around $10.94 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.73, while dry cleaning costs about $16.84.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Des Moines, the median household income is $63,966.