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Cost of Living Comparison Between Aachen and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Aachen and Des Moines, IA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Aachen is 13.3% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Aachen is 1.3% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.34 โ‚ฌ14.08
$16.27 $16.27
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 โ‚ฌ69.8
$79.4 $79.4
1.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.46 โ‚ฌ9.88
$11.82 $11.82
-3.05%
Cappuccino
$4.01 โ‚ฌ3.45
$4.87 $4.87
-17.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.91
$2.40 $2.40
40.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.51
$1.86 $1.86
56.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.27 โ‚ฌ4.55
$5.07 $5.07
3.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 โ‚ฌ4.02
$7.03 $7.03
-33.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 โ‚ฌ1.04
$0.98 $0.98
23.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.92
$2.53 $2.53
-11.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 โ‚ฌ2.90
$2.16 $2.16
55.56%
Eggs
$3.49 โ‚ฌ3.01
$3.52 $3.52
-0.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.59 โ‚ฌ12.58
$12.89 $12.89
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.72 โ‚ฌ11.83
$10.40 $10.40
31.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.61 โ‚ฌ16.91
$12.85 $12.85
52.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 โ‚ฌ2.83
$4.56 $4.56
-28.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 โ‚ฌ1.57
$1.46 $1.46
24.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 โ‚ฌ1.95
$3.74 $3.74
-39.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 โ‚ฌ3.79
$3.57 $3.57
23.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 โ‚ฌ1.38
$1.68 $1.68
-4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$3.00 $3.00
-40.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.66
$2.21 $2.21
-13.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 โ‚ฌ0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.23 โ‚ฌ7.95
$7.32 $7.32
26.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.94 โ‚ฌ5.98
$14.14 $14.14
-50.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 โ‚ฌ0.94
$1.68 $1.68
-35.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 โ‚ฌ1.41
$4.02 $4.02
-59.20%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.45 โ‚ฌ2.98
$1.79 $1.79
92.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.4 โ‚ฌ49.47
$56.9 $56.9
0.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.53 โ‚ฌ4.76
$1.96 $1.96
182.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 โ‚ฌ1.99
$1.23 $1.23
87.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.38 โ‚ฌ14.99
$20.19 $20.19
-13.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.73
$0.81 $0.81
146.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K โ‚ฌ26.9K
$25.6K $25.6K
22.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K โ‚ฌ33.7K
$24.9K $24.9K
56.94%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$359 โ‚ฌ310
$146 $146
146.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.74 โ‚ฌ17.02
$51.9 $51.9
-61.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 โ‚ฌ46.38
$53.9 $53.9
-0.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.87 โ‚ฌ30.06
$66.8 $66.8
-47.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.57 โ‚ฌ18.59
$19.89 $19.89
8.45%
Cinema Ticket
$16.08 โ‚ฌ13.86
$14.85 $14.85
8.28%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$400 โ‚ฌ345
$1,360 $1,360
-70.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K โ‚ฌ19.6K
$11.9K $11.9K
90.34%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 โ‚ฌ96.6
$53.4 $53.4
109.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 โ‚ฌ38.30
$42.35 $42.35
4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 โ‚ฌ71.3
$73.4 $73.4
12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 โ‚ฌ116
$124 $124
8.51%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 โ‚ฌ695
$1,226 $1,226
-34.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 โ‚ฌ514
$904 $904
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,430 โ‚ฌ1,232
$1,752 $1,752
-18.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,188 โ‚ฌ1,024
$1,512 $1,512
-21.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,670 โ‚ฌ4,026
$2,321 $2,321
101.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,711 โ‚ฌ3,199
$2,306 $2,306
60.93%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Aachen
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,249 โ‚ฌ2,801
$3,517 $3,517
-7.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
6.5
-38.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aachen: January 12, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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