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) | 14% lower | 29% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 10% lower | 14% lower |
| Food | 1% lower | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 11% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 13% lower | 9% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 5% lower |
The cost of living in Des Moines, IA is 7% lower than the state average and 12% lower than the national average. Des Moines, IA housing is 29% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 14% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Des Moines, IA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% 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 $1,096, while home prices circle around $366,276.
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 $154.71 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 $4.82 in Des Moines, a dozen eggs go for around $3.99 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.81.
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 $125.16, while a dentist appointment is priced $96.60 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.19 in Des Moines, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $52.49.
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 $38.22 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.33.
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 $11.17 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.63, while dry cleaning costs about $15.18.
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.