Cost of living comparison
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.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of United States, you would:
pay 4.7% less for restaurants
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 13.9% less for groceries
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 19.1% less for transportation
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 26.4% less for housing
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 23.2% less for childcare
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 1.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 12.8% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$143.00
|
|
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