Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 31.7% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 52.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 34.7% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 57.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$29.68 $29.68

-46.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$144 $144

-44.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$12.43 $12.43

-2.09%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.84 $5.84

-18.15%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$3.26 $3.26

-28.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.58 $2.58

-25.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$8.24 $8.24

-41.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$11.86 $11.86

-41.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.56 $1.56

-37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.23 $5.23

-50.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$8.11 $8.11

-72.13%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$7.25 $7.25

-48.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$17.08 $17.08

-24.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$16.24 $16.24

-34.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$20.02 $20.02

-35.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$7.49 $7.49

-42.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.55 $2.55

-43.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.82 $5.82

-35.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$6.52 $6.52

-44.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$3.72 $3.72

-55.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.9 $3.9

-23.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.07 $3.07

-25.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.57 $2.57

-57.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.17 $7.17

$19.21 $19.21

-62.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$17.79 $17.79

-21.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.01 $3.01

-40.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.72 $3.72

10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.92 $2.92

-41.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57 $57

$134 $134

-57.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$5.13 $5.13

-62.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.15 $2.15

-42.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.71 $19.71

$41.57 $41.57

-52.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.95 $0.95

-14.74%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35K $35K

-26.67%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-10.25%

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

$145 $145

$179 $179

-18.84%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$60 $60

-13.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$63.8 $63.8

-15.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.1 $66.1

$141 $141

-53.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.16 $20.16

$63.9 $63.9

-68.45%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$19.9 $19.9

-23.17%

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

$1,380 $1,380

$3,206 $3,206

-56.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$56.5K $56.5K

-78.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53 $53

$65.7 $65.7

-19.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.04 $42.04

$48.75 $48.75

-13.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$111 $111

-33.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$172 $172

-26.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 $1,226

$4,165 $4,165

-70.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$896 $896

$2,653 $2,653

-66.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$8,412 $8,412

-79.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 $1,494

$5,277 $5,277

-71.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,284 $2,284

$15.6K $15.6K

-85.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 $2,291

$11.2K $11.2K

-79.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,655 $3,655

$5,616 $5,616

-34.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.44

0.93%

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 New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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