What is the cost of living in West Des Moines, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Des Moines has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, West Des Moines has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in West Des Moines ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies West Des Moines ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in West Des Moines, check out:
West Des Moines Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Des Moines. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Des Moines is 100.
The Groceries index in West Des Moines is 97.
The Health index in West Des Moines is 119.
The Housing index in West Des Moines is 97.
The Transportation index in West Des Moines is 96.
The Utilities index in West Des Moines is 90.
| Living Expense | West Des Moines | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 119 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 94 | 100 |
West 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 West Des Moines Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
West 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 West Des Moines is $320,156.
The Median Rent in West Des Moines is $1,237.
The Median Income in West Des Moines is $86,594.
The Home Value To Income in West Des Moines is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Des Moines is 0.17x.
| Statistic | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $320,156 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,237 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $86,594 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
West Des Moines, IA Costs By Category
Detailed West Des Moines Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | West 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 West Des Moines Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | West 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 West Des Moines Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | West Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.6 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Des Moines Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | West Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.49 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Des Moines Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | West Des Moines | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $154.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.87 | $192.25 |
West Des Moines SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Des Moines
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Des Moines. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x West Des Moines.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x West Des Moines.
Urbandale, IA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x West Des Moines.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Indianola, IA | 16,044 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Norwalk, IA | 14,183 | 101 | 1.0x |
