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: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,037 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,079 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $4,122 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 121% more expensive than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Des Moines, IA 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$15.78 $15.78

91.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$80.3 $80.3

77.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$12.14 $12.14

4.20%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$4.83 $4.83

20.29%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.32 $2.32

40.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.92 $1.92

34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.02 $5.02

63.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.13 $7.13

65.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.97 $0.97

57.73%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.55 $2.55

106.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$2.24 $2.24

272.32%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$3.53 $3.53

105.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.58 $12.58

37.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$10.56 $10.56

53.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$13.13 $13.13

50.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.35 $4.35

74.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.50 $1.50

61.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.77 $3.77

54.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.56 $3.56

79.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.61 $1.61

140.37%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.03 $3.03

33.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.24 $2.24

39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.12 $1.12

118.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$7.28 $7.28

164.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.29 $15.29

30.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.97 $3.97

-6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.72 $1.72

65.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$58.1 $58.1

131.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.04 $2.04

150.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.27 $1.27

66.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$19.89 $19.89

112.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.77 $0.77

25.97%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

33.35%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

12.07%

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

$181 $181

$143 $143

26.94%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$51.9 $51.9

16.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$53.3 $53.3

17.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$67.9 $67.9

110.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$20.05 $20.05

225.49%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$15.11 $15.11

32.23%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,371 $1,371

134.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$11.8K $11.8K

383.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$53.5 $53.5

26.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$42.62 $42.62

11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$73.3 $73.3

51.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$128 $128

32.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,247 $1,247

228.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$914 $914

194.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$1,729 $1,729

388.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,484 $1,484

245.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,304 $2,304

688.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,327 $2,327

170.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$3,631 $3,631

52.56%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,247 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 53% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $80.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $332 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 121% 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 53% 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,247 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 $80.0 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,037 in Des Moines, IA – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,037 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,503 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 $2,037 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 121% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.