What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Des Moines has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Des Moines has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Des Moines ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Des Moines ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Des Moines, check out:
Des Moines Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Des Moines. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Des Moines is 95.
The Groceries index in Des Moines is 93.
The Health index in Des Moines is 82.
The Housing index in Des Moines is 97.
The Transportation index in Des Moines is 90.
The Utilities index in Des Moines is 99.
| Living Expense | Des Moines | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Des Moines Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Des Moines Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Des Moines, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Des Moines is $208,165.
The Median Rent in Des Moines is $1,090.
The Median Income in Des Moines is $65,932.
The Home Value To Income in Des Moines is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Des Moines is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $208,165 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,090 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,932 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.2x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Des Moines, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Des Moines Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.35 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.17 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.87 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.63 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Des Moines Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.36 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.82 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.81 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.84 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Des Moines Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.6 | $113.29 |
Detailed Des Moines Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.49 | $59.92 |
Detailed Des Moines Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $154.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.87 | $192.25 |
Des Moines SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Des Moines
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Des Moines. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Des Moines.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Des Moines.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x Des Moines.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.2x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 11,136 | 103 | 1.1x |
