Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Des Moines, IA: $2,171 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $33,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

105

Cost of Living Index in Des Moines, IA
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Des Moines, IA Living Index
239

Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
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New York, NY Living Index

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Des Moines, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,171

/mo nomad

New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Des Moines, IA and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Des Moines, IA and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,171 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,938 in New York, NY.

Des Moines, IA $2,171
New York, NY $4,938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,236 in Des Moines, IA versus $7,273 in New York, NY.

Des Moines, IA $3,236
New York, NY $7,273

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,301 in Des Moines, IA versus $9,608 in New York, NY.

Des Moines, IA $4,301
New York, NY $9,608

Living in Des Moines, IA costs roughly 56% less than in New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Moines, IA 60% above, New York, NY 264% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.69 $19.69

$24.99 $24.99

-21.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$120 $120

-32.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$13.74 $13.74

-11.06%

Cappuccino

$6.16 $6.16

$6.60 $6.60

-6.67%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.82 $3.82

-23.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.87 $2.87

-10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$7.95 $7.95

-37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$10.06 $10.06

-41.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.37 $1.37

-33.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.75 $4.75

-36.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$7.69 $7.69

-56.05%

Eggs

$4.00 $4.00

$5.87 $5.87

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 $9.69

$19.25 $19.25

-49.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 $9.91

$17.83 $17.83

-44.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$19.03 $19.03

-28.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$6.69 $6.69

-35.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.29 $2.29

-34.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$6.41 $6.41

-29.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$6.75 $6.75

-45.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.93 $3.93

-21.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$4.52 $4.52

-52.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.79 $2.79

-14.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.51 $2.51

-12.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.85 $7.85

$18.10 $18.10

-56.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$20.16 $20.16

-26.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.26 $3.26

-47.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.75 $3.75

-17.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.92 $2.92

-40.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.1 $58.1

$143 $143

-59.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.06 $3.06

-35.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.16 $2.16

-43.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.70 $19.70

$41.33 $41.33

-52.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.12 $1.12

-16.96%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$33.1K $33.1K

-17.96%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-2.22%

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

$185 $185

$219 $219

-15.83%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$75.3 $75.3

-28.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$70.5 $70.5

-0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$116 $116

-44.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.14 $20.14

$67.6 $67.6

-70.22%

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 $9.99

$21.37 $21.37

-53.25%

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

$1,187 $1,187

$3,432 $3,432

-65.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K $12.0K

$61.7K $61.7K

-80.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 $59.5

$74.9 $74.9

-20.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.98 $42.98

$52.1 $52.1

-17.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$117 $117

-13.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$135 $135

7.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,177 $1,177

$4,347 $4,347

-72.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$872 $872

$3,117 $3,117

-72.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,738 $1,738

$9,110 $9,110

-80.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 $1,394

$5,379 $5,379

-74.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,320 $2,320

$19.3K $19.3K

-87.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,325 $2,325

$6,943 $6,943

-66.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,647 $3,647

$5,238 $5,238

-30.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.85

-4.23%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 19, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Des Moines, IA

$872 40.2%

New York, NY

$3.1K 63.1% 257% $2.2K

Groceries & Markets

Des Moines, IA

$349 16.1%

New York, NY

$552 11.2% 58% $203

Eating Out

Des Moines, IA

$327 15.1%

New York, NY

$407 8.2% 24.5% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Des Moines, IA

$308 14.2%

New York, NY

$365 7.4% 18.4% $57

Clothing & Footwear

Des Moines, IA

$157 7.2%

New York, NY

$170 3.5% 8.6% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Des Moines, IA

$84 3.9%

New York, NY

$158 3.2% 89% $74

Getting Around

Des Moines, IA

$73 3.4%

New York, NY

$168 3.4% 130% $95

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,177 in Des Moines, IA and $4,347 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 44% 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: $81.0 in Des Moines, IA vs $120 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $552 per month, with Des Moines, IA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Des Moines, IA

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕒 Local time

03:50 3:50 AM

04:50 4:50 AM

1 h ahead of Des Moines, IA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

214,133

8,804,190

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Des Moines, IA New York, NY 1,660 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Des Moines, IA
New York, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Des Moines, IA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 127% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Moines, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 44% lower in New York, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,177 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,347 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Moines, IA – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $120 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,171 per month in Des Moines, IA versus $4,938 in New York, NY – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,171 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,938 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Des Moines, IA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Des Moines, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Des Moines, IA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,171 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Des Moines, IA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Des Moines, IA and New York, NY 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 127% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.