Cost of living comparison
United States is 17.9% more expensive than Des Moines.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.4% more in United States
- Groceries
-
pay 19.0% more in United States
- Transportation
-
pay 25.1% more in United States
- Housing
-
pay 36.8% more in United States
- Childcare
-
pay 44.0% more in United States
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.6% more in United States
- Clothing
-
pay 10.7% less in United States
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in United States are more expensive than in Des Moines.
If you lived in United States instead of Des Moines, you would:
pay 5.4% more for restaurants
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.00
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 19.0% more for groceries
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.99
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.92
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.38
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.36
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 25.1% more for transportation
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.00
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.94
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 36.8% more for housing
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,215.00
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$912.50
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 44.0% more for childcare
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,357.76
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,812.00
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 5.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.51
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.67
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 10.7% less for clothing
|
Des Moines
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.00
|
$111.08
|
|
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