Cost of living comparison
Washington is 56.7% more expensive than Des Moines.
- Restaurants
-
pay 25.4% more in Washington
- Groceries
-
pay 40.4% more in Washington
- Transportation
-
pay 46.4% more in Washington
- Housing
-
pay 71.6% more in Washington
- Childcare
-
pay 2.5 times more in Washington
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 44.3% more in Washington
- Clothing
-
pay 23.1% more in Washington
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants in Washington are more expensive than in Des Moines. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Washington.
If you lived in Washington instead of Des Moines, you would:
pay 25.4% more for restaurants
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
|
$2.78
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
|
$2.22
|
|
pay 40.4% more for groceries
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86
|
$4.34
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.99
|
$7.84
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.92
|
$4.14
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09
|
$3.91
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.38
|
$6.73
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$2.70
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
|
$0.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$2.46
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
|
$2.59
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$1.55
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.36
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 46.4% more for transportation
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$3.66
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$35,699.74
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.94
|
$23.88
|
|
pay 71.6% more for housing
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50
|
$66.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,215.00
|
$2,582.95
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$912.50
|
$2,028.70
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16
|
$146.65
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for childcare
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,357.76
|
$2,273.25
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,812.00
|
$38,250.00
|
|
pay 44.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.51
|
$5.55
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14
|
$11.75
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.67
|
$106.36
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$17.18
|
|
pay 23.1% more for clothing
|
Des Moines
|
Washington
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43
|
$74.13
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50
|
$50.77
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50
|
$105.47
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.00
|
$178.48
|
|
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