Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 19.3% more expensive than Madrid.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.1% less in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 30.2% more in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 16.6% less in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 6.0% more in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 78.2% more in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 42.7% more in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 3.3% less in Des Moines
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing in Des Moines are more expensive than in Madrid. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Des Moines. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Madrid, you would:
pay 2.1% less for restaurants
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€14.11
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.72
€9.41
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.79
€2.45
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.80
€1.58
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 30.2% more for groceries
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.50
€1.31
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.92
€6.08
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.41
€3.87
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.05
€2.68
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.78
€3.32
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.13
€0.99
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.87
€0.76
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.01
€0.88
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05
€0.92
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.73
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.82
€0.72
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 16.6% less for transportation
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.79
€5.96
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.87
€37.63
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,759.38
€31,386.00
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.90
€13.08
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 6.0% more for housing
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.85
€27.95
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,468.90
€1,289.25
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,074.71
€943.27
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$130.03
€114.13
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 78.2% more for childcare
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$567.57
€498.15
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,069.47
€8,837.97
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 42.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.75
€3.29
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
€2.27
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.43
€5.64
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$43.11
€37.84
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.72
€9.41
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 3.3% less for clothing
|
Madrid
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$90.50
€79.43
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.21
€32.66
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.88
€85.91
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$121.40
€106.55
|
$143.00
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Des Moines or Madrid. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.