City profile
Des Moines, IA cost of living
IA · BLS RPP 92.1
Overall RPP
92.1
US = 100
Housing RPP
87.5
Housing component
Goods RPP
93.3
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,080/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Des Moines, IA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#59 of 67
-7.9 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-6.3
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#67 of 67
-526/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Des Moines, IA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Des Moines, IA metro.
Moved in
36,851
people · 22,035 households
Moved out
36,363
people · 21,845 households
Net
+488
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#27 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+592
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Story County, IA 1,490
- Linn County, IA 560
- Marion County, IA 498
- Johnson County, IA 469
- Black Hawk County, IA 408
Where residents moved to
- Story County, IA 1,203
- Marion County, IA 635
- Maricopa County, AZ 452
- Boone County, IA 374
- Cook County, IL 373
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Des Moines, IA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Des Moines, IA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,050 | $50,000 x (92.1/100) |
| $75,000 | $69,075 | $75,000 x (92.1/100) |
| $100,000 | $92,100 | $100,000 x (92.1/100) |
| $125,000 | $115,125 | $125,000 x (92.1/100) |
| $150,000 | $138,150 | $150,000 x (92.1/100) |
| $200,000 | $184,200 | $200,000 x (92.1/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Iowa income tax 4.4%-6.0%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA?
- Des Moines, IA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 92.1 (US average = 100). It is 7.9% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Des Moines, IA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $92,100 in Des Moines, IA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is approximately $1,080 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Des Moines, IA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 36,851 people moved into the Des Moines, IA metro and 36,363 moved out — a net gain of roughly 488 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Story County, IA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Des Moines, IA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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