Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 18.3% cheaper than Denver.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.1% less in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 21.3% less in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 25.6% less in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 32.9% less in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 16.4% less in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.5% less in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 1.7% more in Des Moines
Expenses including housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and childcare are lower in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Denver, you would:
pay 17.1% less for restaurants
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.00
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.88
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.40
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 21.3% less for groceries
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.94
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.08
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.90
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.34
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.88
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.61
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.57
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.57
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 25.6% less for transportation
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.37
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$88.00
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,029.12
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.42
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 32.9% less for housing
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.02
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,088.15
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,670.27
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$151.79
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 16.4% less for childcare
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,445.06
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$16,168.00
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 16.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.61
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.00
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$60.19
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 1.7% more for clothing
|
Denver
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$59.11
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$48.89
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.36
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.25
|
$143.00
|
|
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