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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 29.8% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 72.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 36.2% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 82% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$15.83 $15.83

58.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.4 $79.4

49.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.17 $12.17

13.72%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$4.78 $4.78

21.34%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.32 $2.32

27.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.93 $1.93

30.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$4.86 $4.86

60.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$6.97 $6.97

12.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.97 $0.97

38.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$2.57 $2.57

93.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.26 $2.26

136.73%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.72 $3.72

85.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$12.89 $12.89

92.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$10.58 $10.58

48.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$12.82 $12.82

62.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.33 $4.33

39.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.44 $1.44

90.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.75 $3.75

45.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.61 $3.61

78.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.66 $1.66

87.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.97 $2.97

24.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.29 $2.29

21.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.08 $1.08

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$7.17 $7.17

62.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$13.95 $13.95

22.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.78 $1.78

65.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.11 $4.11

1.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.7 $1.7

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$57 $57

76.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.94 $1.94

38.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.23 $1.23

34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$19.71 $19.71

52.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.81 $0.81

43.21%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

29.73%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.67%

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

$271 $271

$145 $145

86.97%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.1 $52.1

18.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$54.2 $54.2

38.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$66.1 $66.1

18.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$20.16 $20.16

103.57%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$15.29 $15.29

3.92%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,380 $1,380

62.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$12K $12K

141.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$53 $53

31.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$42.04 $42.04

24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$74 $74

61.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$127 $127

12.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$1,226 $1,226

93.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$896 $896

104.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$1,740 $1,740

170.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$1,494 $1,494

132.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$2,284 $2,284

203.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,291 $2,291

127.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,655 $3,655

77.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

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