Cost of living comparison
Denver is 26.9% more expensive than Des Moines.
- Restaurants
-
pay 20.8% more in Denver
- Groceries
-
pay 32.0% more in Denver
- Transportation
-
pay 36.5% more in Denver
- Housing
-
pay 53.0% more in Denver
- Childcare
-
pay 21.6% more in Denver
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 23.7% more in Denver
- Clothing
-
pay 0.4% more in Denver
The cost of housing, transportation, groceries, entertainment and sports, childcare, and restaurants in Denver are more expensive than in Des Moines.
If you lived in Denver instead of Des Moines, you would:
pay 20.8% more for restaurants
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.00
|
$20.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
|
$2.88
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
|
$2.40
|
|
pay 32.0% more for groceries
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86
|
$3.94
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.99
|
$7.08
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.92
|
$3.90
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09
|
$4.34
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.38
|
$5.88
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.61
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
|
$0.81
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$2.57
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
|
$2.57
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$1.37
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.36
|
$1.25
|
|
pay 36.5% more for transportation
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$3.37
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.00
|
$88.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$36,029.12
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.94
|
$17.42
|
|
pay 53.0% more for housing
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50
|
$67.02
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,215.00
|
$2,088.15
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$912.50
|
$1,670.27
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16
|
$151.79
|
|
pay 21.6% more for childcare
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,357.76
|
$1,445.06
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,812.00
|
$16,168.00
|
|
pay 23.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.51
|
$5.61
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14
|
$10.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.67
|
$60.19
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 0.4% more for clothing
|
Des Moines
|
Denver
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43
|
$59.11
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50
|
$48.89
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50
|
$93.36
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.00
|
$112.25
|
|
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