Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Iowa City, IA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,184/mo in Des Moines, IA versus $4,184/mo in Iowa City, IA. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 15.94% in Iowa City, IA, so Des Moines, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Des Moines, IA and Iowa City, IA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Des Moines, IA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Des Moines, IA
- Lower home prices: Des Moines, IA
- Higher median household income: Des Moines, IA
Cost of Living Index
Des Moines, IA: 87.6 (U.S. = 100) · Iowa City, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Des Moines, IA has a lower cost-of-living index than Iowa City, IA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Iowa City, IA: $1,040/mo
Median rent in Iowa City, IA is $38/mo higher than in Des Moines, IA.
Median Home Price
Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Iowa City, IA: $273,600
Median home price in Iowa City, IA is $89,900 higher than in Des Moines, IA.
Median Household Income
Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Iowa City, IA: $57,533
Des Moines, IA has a higher median household income than Iowa City, IA by $6,433.
Des Moines, IA overview · Iowa City, IA overview · Popular comparisons