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

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 1.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 1.1% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$19.64 $19.64

-19.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$76.2 $76.2

4.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$9.95 $9.95

22.31%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.61 $5.61

-14.80%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$2.64 $2.64

-12.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.19 $2.19

-11.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.84 $5.84

-16.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.92 $7.92

-11.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.3 $3.3

-22.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.5 $3.5

-35.43%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$4.4 $4.4

-15.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$12 $12

7.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.68 $10.68

-0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$14.73 $14.73

-12.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.88 $4.88

-11.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.52 $1.52

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.53 $4.53

-17.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.92 $3.92

-7.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.72 $2.72

-38.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.76 $2.76

7.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.01 $2.01

13.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.18 $2.18

-50.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.17 $7.17

$8.86 $8.86

-19.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$14.96 $14.96

-6.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.34 $2.34

-23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.44 $3.44

19.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.7 $1.7

$1.48 $1.48

14.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57 $57

$42.82 $42.82

33.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$4.3 $4.3

-54.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.82 $1.82

-32.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.71 $19.71

$34.63 $34.63

-43.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.73 $0.73

10.96%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

0.89%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-5.49%

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

$145 $145

$177 $177

-17.91%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$58.9 $58.9

-11.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$64.8 $64.8

-16.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.1 $66.1

$62.6 $62.6

5.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.16 $20.16

$10.17 $10.17

98.23%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.72 $14.72

3.87%

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

$1,380 $1,380

$1,378 $1,378

0.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$22.4K $22.4K

-46.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53 $53

$56.3 $56.3

-5.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.04 $42.04

$46.46 $46.46

-9.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$86.7 $86.7

-14.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$119 $119

6.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 $1,226

$2,188 $2,188

-43.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$896 $896

$1,395 $1,395

-35.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$3,896 $3,896

-55.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 $1,494

$2,689 $2,689

-44.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,284 $2,284

$4,414 $4,414

-48.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 $2,291

$3,161 $3,161

-27.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,655 $3,655

$4,871 $4,871

-24.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.45

0.78%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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