Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,078 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,094 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,110 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 30% more expensive than in Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Des Moines, IA 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.68 $15.68

27.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$79.2 $79.2

-5.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.14 $12.14

-18.86%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.89 $4.89

18.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.39 $2.39

15.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.92 $1.92

13.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.04 $5.04

18.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.07 $7.07

14.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.98 $0.98

12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.51 $2.51

30.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.15 $2.15

56.74%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.70 $3.70

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$12.62 $12.62

-4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.35 $10.35

2.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$13.08 $13.08

11.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.59 $4.59

9.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 $1.49

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.70 $3.70

18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.44 $3.44

18.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.61 $1.61

72.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.08 $3.08

-8.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.22 $2.22

-11.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.13 $1.13

97.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$6.98 $6.98

25.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.20 $15.20

-3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.70 $1.70

37.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.01 $4.01

-13.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.80 $1.80

-15.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$58.4 $58.4

-26.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.03 $2.03

112.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.22 $1.22

47.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$19.78 $19.78

78.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.77 $0.77

3.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.6K $24.6K

8.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 $173

$143 $143

21.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.5 $58.5

$52.3 $52.3

11.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$53.4 $53.4

25.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$66.1 $66.1

-6.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$19.75 $19.75

-50.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.07 $15.07

-1.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,414 $1,414

$1,392 $1,392

1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$11.6K $11.6K

90.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.2 $53.2

3.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$42.83 $42.83

8.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$73.1 $73.1

19.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$126 $126

-5.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,229 $1,229

78.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$921 $921

54.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,785 $1,785

111.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,480 $1,480

82.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,284 $2,284

221.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,319 $2,319

35.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,848 $3,848

32.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.5

-0.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,229 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Des Moines, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $331, with Des Moines, IA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Moines, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,229 in Des Moines, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,078 in Des Moines, IA – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Des Moines, IA runs roughly 37% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,078 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Des Moines, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Des Moines, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Des Moines, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Des Moines, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.