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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $3,127 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $4,176 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 114% more expensive than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 231% above, Des Moines, IA 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$15.83 $15.83

88.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$78.5 $78.5

83.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.96 $11.96

3.01%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$4.90 $4.90

23.06%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.31 $2.31

46.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.92 $1.92

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.14 $5.14

59.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$6.94 $6.94

72.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.98 $0.98

57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.43 $2.43

111.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$2.23 $2.23

278.03%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$3.65 $3.65

90.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$12.83 $12.83

34.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$10.59 $10.59

53.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$12.72 $12.72

56.84%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.59 $4.59

62.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.49 $1.49

62.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.77 $3.77

55.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$3.45 $3.45

82.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.68 $1.68

121.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.95 $2.95

35.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.31 $2.31

38.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.13 $1.13

125.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$6.98 $6.98

173.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$14.86 $14.86

36.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.68 $1.68

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.95 $3.95

-2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.80 $1.80

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$57.7 $57.7

126.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$1.96 $1.96

161.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.26 $1.26

74.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$19.93 $19.93

113.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.82 $0.82

15.85%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

30.24%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

13.44%

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

$182 $182

$148 $148

23.12%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$50.3 $50.3

19.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$52.8 $52.8

17.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$67.9 $67.9

106.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

$20.01 $20.01

221.89%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$15.07 $15.07

34.90%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,391 $1,391

131.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$11.9K $11.9K

370.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$52.9 $52.9

24.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$42.50 $42.50

11.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$73.9 $73.9

50.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$124 $124

39.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,209 $1,209

247.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$897 $897

195.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$1,788 $1,788

370.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$1,514 $1,514

241.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,334 $2,334

760.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,352 $2,352

271.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$3,564 $3,564

44.33%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $1,209 in Des Moines, IA. 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: $144 in New York, NY vs $79 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $331 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

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

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 114% 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.

New York, NY pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,209 in Des Moines, IA. 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 $79.0 versus $144 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,438 per month in New York, NY versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,077 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,438 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 $2,077 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Des Moines, IA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Des Moines, IA 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 114% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.