Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Los Angeles, CA
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 $3,974/mo in Los Angeles, CA. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 25.99% in Los Angeles, CA, 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 Los Angeles, CA.
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: Los Angeles, CA
Cost of Living Index
Des Moines, IA: 87.6 (U.S. = 100) · Los Angeles, CA: 148.6 (U.S. = 100)
Des Moines, IA has a lower cost-of-living index than Los Angeles, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Los Angeles, CA: $1,695/mo
Median rent in Los Angeles, CA is $693/mo higher than in Des Moines, IA.
Median Home Price
Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Los Angeles, CA: $657,700
Median home price in Los Angeles, CA is $474,000 higher than in Des Moines, IA.
Median Household Income
Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Los Angeles, CA: $74,785
Los Angeles, CA has a higher median household income than Des Moines, IA by $10,819.
Des Moines, IA overview · Los Angeles, CA overview · Popular comparisons