Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 14.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$20.82 $20.82

-23.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$100 $100

-20.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.97 $11.97

1.67%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.56 $5.56

-14.03%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$3.11 $3.11

-25.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.42 $2.42

-20.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.86 $6.86

-29.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.45 $8.45

-17.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.15 $4.15

-38.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$5.52 $5.52

-59.06%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$4.65 $4.65

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$14.33 $14.33

-10.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$14.88 $14.88

-28.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$19.34 $19.34

-33.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.17 $5.17

-16.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.71 $1.71

-15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.41 $4.41

-14.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.51 $4.51

-19.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.53 $2.53

-34.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.74 $2.74

8.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.43 $2.43

-5.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.7 $2.7

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.17 $7.17

$15.19 $15.19

-52.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$16.42 $16.42

-15.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.7 $3.7

11.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.53 $2.53

-32.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57 $57

$74.1 $74.1

-23.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.34 $3.34

-41.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.42 $1.42

-13.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.71 $19.71

$25.42 $25.42

-22.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.08 $1.08

-25.00%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-20.75%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.18%

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

$145 $145

$188 $188

-22.99%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$63.7 $63.7

-18.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$65.2 $65.2

-16.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.1 $66.1

$76.7 $76.7

-13.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.16 $20.16

$13.03 $13.03

54.72%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.93 $14.93

2.41%

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

$1,380 $1,380

$2,063 $2,063

-33.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$39.2K $39.2K

-69.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53 $53

$64.3 $64.3

-17.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.04 $42.04

$52.4 $52.4

-19.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$95.2 $95.2

-22.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$145 $145

-12.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 $1,226

$2,378 $2,378

-48.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$896 $896

$1,584 $1,584

-43.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$4,763 $4,763

-63.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 $1,494

$2,815 $2,815

-46.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,284 $2,284

$3,588 $3,588

-36.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 $2,291

$2,490 $2,490

-7.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,655 $3,655

$5,275 $5,275

-30.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.6

-1.52%

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 Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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