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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,175 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,878 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,225 in Des Moines, IA versus $7,262 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,274 in Des Moines, IA versus $9,645 in New York, NY.

Living in Des Moines, IA costs roughly 55% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Moines, IA 58% above, New York, NY 255% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.96 $19.96

$25.20 $25.20

-20.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 $80.3

$150 $150

-46.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$13.98 $13.98

-12.88%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$6.39 $6.39

-5.01%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$4.01 $4.01

-26.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.91 $2.91

-15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$8.01 $8.01

-38.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 $5.66

$9.94 $9.94

-43.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.33 $1.33

-30.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 $2.99

$4.80 $4.80

-37.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.81 $6.81

-50.95%

Eggs

$3.89 $3.89

$5.67 $5.67

-31.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 $9.72

$16.66 $16.66

-41.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.56 $9.56

$14.82 $14.82

-35.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.62 $13.62

$18.90 $18.90

-27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.03 $6.03

-26.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.16 $2.16

-29.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.67 $5.67

-21.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$6.07 $6.07

-36.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.49 $3.49

-7.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$4.14 $4.14

-46.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.67 $2.67

-10.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.56 $2.56

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.01 $8.01

$19.04 $19.04

-57.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$19.73 $19.73

-23.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$3.30 $3.30

-48.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.97 $3.97

-22.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.99 $2.99

-40.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 $59.0

$140 $140

-57.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.94 $2.94

-30.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$2.12 $2.12

-42.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.07 $20.07

$41.24 $41.24

-51.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.11 $1.11

-18.92%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$35.2K $35.2K

-0.28%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

-2.64%

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

$184 $184

$218 $218

-15.64%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$76.5 $76.5

-29.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$76.0 $76.0

-7.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 $64.8

$128 $128

-49.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 $20.02

$63.2 $63.2

-68.33%

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$23.94 $23.94

-36.51%

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

$1,136 $1,136

$3,313 $3,313

-65.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K $12.0K

$60.8K $60.8K

-80.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 $61.4

$74.0 $74.0

-17.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.74 $42.74

$56.3 $56.3

-24.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$116 $116

-9.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$130 $130

10.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 $1,146

$4,391 $4,391

-73.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$853 $853

$3,088 $3,088

-72.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,686 $1,686

$9,291 $9,291

-81.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 $1,432

$5,460 $5,460

-73.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,336 $2,336

$19.3K $19.3K

-87.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,281 $2,281

$6,723 $6,723

-66.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,859 $3,859

$5,364 $5,364

-28.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.43

-6.22%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: August 31, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,146 in Des Moines, IA and $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 39% 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: $80.0 in Des Moines, IA vs $150 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $512 per month, with Des Moines, IA cheaper across the board.

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 124% 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 39% 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: $1,146 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,391 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 $80.0 versus $150 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,175 per month in Des Moines, IA versus $4,878 in New York, NY – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,175 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,878 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 $2,175 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 124% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.