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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 79.5% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 119.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 62.7% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 129.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.05 $30.05

$16.27 $16.27

84.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$79.4 $79.4

78.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$11.82 $11.82

3.81%

Cappuccino

$5.99 $5.99

$4.87 $4.87

23.00%

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

$3.31 $3.31

$2.40 $2.40

37.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.86 $1.86

45.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$5.07 $5.07

62.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.03 $7.03

71.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.98 $0.98

56.12%

White Bread (500g)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.53 $2.53

105.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$2.16 $2.16

289.35%

Eggs

$7.21 $7.21

$3.52 $3.52

104.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$12.89 $12.89

37.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$10.40 $10.40

58.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.98 $19.98

$12.85 $12.85

55.49%

Apples (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$4.56 $4.56

60.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.46 $1.46

69.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$3.74 $3.74

52.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$3.57 $3.57

83.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$1.68 $1.68

129.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.00 $3.00

32.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.21 $2.21

39.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.08 $1.08

129.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.19 $19.19

$7.32 $7.32

162.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$14.14 $14.14

29.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.68 $1.68

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.02 $4.02

-5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.79 $1.79

64.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$56.9 $56.9

136.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.96 $1.96

151.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.23 $1.23

71.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$20.19 $20.19

108.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

37.92%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

10.55%

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

$182 $182

$146 $146

24.82%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$51.9 $51.9

14.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$53.9 $53.9

16.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$66.8 $66.8

112.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.2 $65.2

$19.89 $19.89

227.60%

Cinema Ticket

$20.25 $20.25

$14.85 $14.85

36.36%

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

$3,193 $3,193

$1,360 $1,360

134.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.7K $57.7K

$11.9K $11.9K

383.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$53.4 $53.4

27.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.71 $47.71

$42.35 $42.35

12.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$73.4 $73.4

55.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$124 $124

37.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$1,226 $1,226

238.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,695 $2,695

$904 $904

198.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,492 $8,492

$1,752 $1,752

384.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,225 $5,225

$1,512 $1,512

245.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.5K $21.5K

$2,321 $2,321

827.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K $10.0K

$2,306 $2,306

334.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,197 $5,197

$3,517 $3,517

47.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.5

-0.92%

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

Last update for New York, NY: January 12, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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