Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 23% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 42% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 26.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 45.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$25.11 $25.11

-36.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$118 $118

-32.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$13.84 $13.84

-12.07%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.8 $5.8

-17.59%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$2.95 $2.95

-21.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.51 $2.51

-23.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$7.81 $7.81

-37.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.84 $7.84

-11.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.34 $1.34

-27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.98 $4.98

-48.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$5.35 $5.35

-57.76%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$6.91 $6.91

-46.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$24.8 $24.8

-48.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$15.74 $15.74

-32.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$20.84 $20.84

-38.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$6.05 $6.05

-28.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.75 $2.75

-47.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.47 $5.47

-31.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$6.45 $6.45

-44.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$3.11 $3.11

-46.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.69 $3.69

-19.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.78 $2.78

-17.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.52 $2.52

-57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.17 $7.17

$11.64 $11.64

-38.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$17.15 $17.15

-18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.94 $2.94

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.19 $4.19

-1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.8 $2.8

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57 $57

$101 $101

-43.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.68 $2.68

-27.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.65 $1.65

-25.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.71 $19.71

$30.13 $30.13

-34.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.16 $1.16

-30.17%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$33.3K $33.3K

-22.91%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-5.37%

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

$145 $145

$271 $271

-46.52%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$61.8 $61.8

-15.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$75.2 $75.2

-27.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.1 $66.1

$78.4 $78.4

-15.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.16 $20.16

$41.04 $41.04

-50.88%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$15.89 $15.89

-3.78%

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

$1,380 $1,380

$2,248 $2,248

-38.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$29K $29K

-58.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53 $53

$69.5 $69.5

-23.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.04 $42.04

$52.5 $52.5

-19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$120 $120

-38.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$142 $142

-11.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 $1,226

$2,376 $2,376

-48.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$896 $896

$1,829 $1,829

-51.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$4,702 $4,702

-63.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 $1,494

$3,474 $3,474

-57.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,284 $2,284

$6,928 $6,928

-67.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 $2,291

$5,224 $5,224

-56.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,655 $3,655

$6,473 $6,473

-43.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.42

1.25%

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 Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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