Cost of living in Des Moines: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Des Moines sits 8.3% below the US average. For 2024, the BEA regional price parity (RPP) of the Des Moines, IA metro area is 91.7, with the US at 100, while housing alone is 84.7.
- Overall prices
- 91.7US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- Rents: 84.7. US = 100.
Cost of living index for Des Moines
A regional price parity compares what one basket of goods and services costs in a given place with the US average, which is set at 100. Des Moines lies inside the metro area of Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, and BEA prices that whole area as one. Utilities are the category furthest from the US average, coming in at 84.6, or 15.4% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Des Moines, IA metro | Iowa | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.7 | 87.8 | −8.3% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 84.7 | 65.3 | −15.3% |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 83.3 | −15.4% |
| Other services | 92.9 | 92.9 | −7.1% |
The 2024 regional price parities for metro areas and states are published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). BEA regional price parities
How much rent costs in Des Moines
Asking rents that are typical in Des Moines run $1,129 a month under the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks homes listed now. That figure is +1.0% on a year. The US figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $1,107, and it counts every renting household rather than only new leases. One year of asking rent equals 20% of the median household income.
| Rent | Des Moines | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,129 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.0% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,107 | $1,487 |
| Median income share covered by one year of asking rent | 20% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 with one-year estimates.
Des Moines home prices
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put the value of a typical home in Des Moines at $208,053 in September 2026. The index tracks what a home in the middle of the market is worth. That is a change of −0.3% over a year, while the US figure is $366,157. That equals 3.1 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | Des Moines | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $208,053 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −0.3% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +71.0% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 3.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 15.4 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast, and a price chart since 2000: Des Moines housing market.
Salary you need to live in Des Moines
Two questions set the salary in Des Moines, the one that matches what your pay buys now: what you earn, and where you live.
- Moving out of
- Salary
Side by side, every city and the method: city cost of living comparison.
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Des Moines cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Overall prices | Housing | Typical rent level | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 91.7 | 84.7 | $1,129 | $208,053 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
Price levels: 2024 BEA regional price parities, with US = 100 as the base. Zillow ZORI for rent. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: city cost of living comparison. State by state: cost of living in each state.