Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Knoxville, TN

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 $4,516/mo in Knoxville, TN. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 16.27% in Knoxville, TN, so Des Moines, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Des Moines, IA
$4,184/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in Knoxville, TN
$4,516/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Des Moines, IA
15.36%
COLI tier: lower-cost
Rent share (1BR) in Knoxville, TN
16.27%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Des Moines, IA and Knoxville, TN.

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) · Knoxville, TN: 92.2 (U.S. = 100)

Des Moines, IA has a lower cost-of-living index than Knoxville, TN, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Knoxville, TN: $1,061/mo

Median rent in Knoxville, TN is $59/mo higher than in Des Moines, IA.

Median Home Price

Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Knoxville, TN: $214,000

Median home price in Knoxville, TN is $30,300 higher than in Des Moines, IA.

Median Household Income

Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Knoxville, TN: $50,994

Des Moines, IA has a higher median household income than Knoxville, TN by $12,972.

Des Moines, IA overview · Knoxville, TN overview · Popular comparisons