Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 30.5% cheaper than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 18.7% less in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 26.5% less in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 29.0% less in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 37.2% less in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 54.7% less in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 29.1% less in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 18.6% less in Des Moines
Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, groceries, and restaurants are lower in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Washington, you would:
pay 18.7% less for restaurants
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.78
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.22
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 26.5% less for groceries
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.34
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.84
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.14
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.91
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.73
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.70
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.46
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.59
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 29.0% less for transportation
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.66
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,699.74
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.88
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 37.2% less for housing
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.46
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,582.95
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,028.70
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.65
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 54.7% less for childcare
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,273.25
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,250.00
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 29.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.55
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.75
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$106.36
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.18
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 18.6% less for clothing
|
Washington
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$74.13
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.77
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.47
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$178.48
|
$143.00
|
|
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