Cost of living in Des Moines
Des Moines (IA), United States
compared to
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Cost of living in Des Moines vs. United States overall average
Des Moines is 10.8% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.7% less in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 13.9% less in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 19.1% less in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 26.4% less in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 23.2% less in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.3% less in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 12.8% more in Des Moines
Expenses including housing, childcare, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Des Moines.
Des Moines Cost of Living Breakdown
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $16.00 |
$11.50
-
$40.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00 |
$9.00
-
$12.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.36 |
$1.89
-
$6.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.06 |
$1.50
-
$5.00
|
Des Moines - Cost of restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86 |
$1.10
-
$6.61
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $5.99 |
$3.31
-
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.92 |
$3.00
-
$5.49
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09 |
$2.00
-
$5.29
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.38 |
$2.49
-
$8.15
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.10 |
$1.00
-
$4.00
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.73 |
$0.50
-
$1.49
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.59 |
$1.00
-
$5.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $1.74 |
$1.49
-
$3.40
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.75 |
$0.50
-
$1.79
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.36 |
$0.99
-
$2.19
|
Des Moines - Cost of groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.07 |
$2.69
-
$3.40
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $58.00 |
$58.00
-
$58.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $26,000.00 |
$26,000.00
-
$35,699.74
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $11.94 |
$11.94
-
$13.19
|
Des Moines - Cost of transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50 |
$50.00
-
$100.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,215.00 |
$925.00
-
$1,600.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $912.50 |
$850.00
-
$1,000.00
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16 |
$104.95
-
$229.41
|
Des Moines - Cost of housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,357.76 |
$1,066.00
-
$2,046.25
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $11,812.00 |
$11,812.00
-
$28,840.00
|
Des Moines - Cost of childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $5.00 |
$3.50
-
$8.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $4.51 |
$3.00
-
$10.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14 |
$6.60
-
$12.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $66.67 |
$40.00
-
$100.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $15.00 |
$10.00
-
$16.00
|
Des Moines - Cost of entertainment and sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43 |
$30.00
-
$100.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50 |
$30.00
-
$55.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50 |
$50.00
-
$150.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $143.00 |
$60.00
-
$250.00
|
Des Moines - Cost of clothing
Tip: Try viewing our aggregate cost of living in Iowa
to see the average cost of cities throughout Iowa, like
Burlington,
Sioux City,
Ankeny,
Des Moines,
Emmetsburg,
and more.
For a detailed breakdown of Santa Cruz vs. the national average, see the cost of living in United States compared to Des Moines.
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