Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 44.2% more expensive than Athens.
- Restaurants
-
pay 73.5% more in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 53.1% more in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 3.0% more in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 48.7% more in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 2.0 times more in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.4% more in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 0.8% less in Des Moines
The cost of childcare, restaurants, groceries, housing, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Des Moines are more expensive than in Athens. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Athens, you would:
pay 73.5% more for restaurants
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€13.65
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.65
€8.19
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
€1.75
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.55
€0.46
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 53.1% more for groceries
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.27
€1.08
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.59
€5.60
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.29
€5.34
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.50
€3.82
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.89
€4.15
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.93
€0.79
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.89
€0.76
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.60
€0.51
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.93
€0.79
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.57
€0.48
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.53
€0.45
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 3.0% more for transportation
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.64
€6.48
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$30.01
€25.48
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,384.48
€25,796.18
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.86
€10.92
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 48.7% more for housing
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$32.55
€27.63
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$634.68
€538.84
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$557.32
€473.16
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$153.41
€130.24
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for childcare
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$463.20
€393.25
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,722.29
€9,103.14
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 30.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.36
€4.55
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.71
€3.15
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.88
€4.14
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$49.36
€41.91
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.65
€8.19
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 0.8% less for clothing
|
Athens
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$86.11
€73.11
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.32
€32.54
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.75
€79.60
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.38
€97.96
|
$143.00
|
|
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