Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Sioux 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 Sioux City, IA. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 13.65% in Sioux City, IA, so Sioux City, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Des Moines, IA
$4,184/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in Sioux City, IA
$4,184/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Des Moines, IA
15.36%
COLI tier: lower-cost
Rent share (1BR) in Sioux City, IA
13.65%
COLI tier: mid-range

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

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Des Moines, IA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Sioux City, IA
  • Lower home prices: Sioux City, IA
  • Higher median household income: Sioux City, IA

Cost of Living Index

Des Moines, IA: 87.6 (U.S. = 100) · Sioux City, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100)

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

Median Rent

Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Sioux City, IA: $890/mo

Median rent in Des Moines, IA is $112/mo higher than in Sioux City, IA.

Median Home Price

Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Sioux City, IA: $162,600

Median home price in Des Moines, IA is $21,100 higher than in Sioux City, IA.

Median Household Income

Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Sioux City, IA: $65,473

Sioux City, IA has a higher median household income than Des Moines, IA by $1,507.

Des Moines, IA overview · Sioux City, IA overview · Popular comparisons