Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 21.4% more expensive than Berlin.
- Restaurants
-
pay 15.3% less in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 14.1% more in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 31.1% less in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 11.3% less in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 2.8 times more in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.8% more in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 8.0% less in Des Moines
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Des Moines are more expensive than in Berlin. Expenses including transportation, restaurants, housing, and clothing are lower in Des Moines. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Berlin, you would:
pay 15.3% less for restaurants
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€14.17
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.79
€10.39
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.88
€2.54
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.84
€2.50
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 14.1% more for groceries
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.96
€1.72
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.66
€5.87
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.57
€4.03
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.28
€2.89
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.41
€4.76
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.34
€1.19
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.73
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.00
€0.88
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.85
€1.63
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.73
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.80
€0.70
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 31.1% less for transportation
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.19
€6.33
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.52
€46.28
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,799.21
€28,022.74
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$29.37
€25.88
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 11.3% less for housing
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$44.99
€39.64
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,278.77
€1,126.90
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$938.86
€827.36
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$263.55
€232.25
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 2.8 times more for childcare
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$306.98
€270.53
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,639.17
€8,494.42
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 18.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.29
€3.78
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.98
€3.51
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.11
€8.03
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$37.89
€33.39
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.66
€12.04
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 8.0% less for clothing
|
Berlin
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$85.49
€75.34
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.99
€36.12
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$95.49
€84.15
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$138.30
€121.87
|
$143.00
|
|
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