Cost of living index
Des Moines, IA
91.7 / 100
Living in Des Moines, IA is 8.3% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
91.7
Housing / rent
84.7
vs US average
−8.3%
What it costs to live in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has an overall price level of 91.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 8.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 84.7 it is 15.3% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Des Moines, IA an expensive place to live?
Des Moines, IA has an overall cost-of-living index of 91.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 8.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Des Moines, IA?
Housing in Des Moines, IA scores 84.7 against a US average of 100 — roughly 15.3% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Des Moines, IA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Des Moines, IA sit at 91.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 84.7. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.