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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,111 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,163 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,214 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 70% more expensive than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Des Moines, IA 58% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$16.09 $16.09

55.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$81.5 $81.5

46.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.81 $11.81

17.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.99 $4.99

11.42%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.33 $2.33

31.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.89 $1.89

30.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.05 $5.05

57.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.12 $7.12

12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.99 $0.99

35.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.47 $2.47

104.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$2.15 $2.15

149.30%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.59 $3.59

83.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$12.47 $12.47

102.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.63 $10.63

52.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$12.83 $12.83

58.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.55 $4.55

31.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.51 $1.51

81.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.58 $3.58

49.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$3.54 $3.54

86.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.68 $1.68

93.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.05 $3.05

24.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.21 $2.21

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.12 $1.12

125.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.06 $7.06

60.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.03 $15.03

8.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.69 $1.69

68.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.06 $4.06

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.71 $1.71

57.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$57.8 $57.8

67.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.21 $1.21

42.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$20.05 $20.05

46.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

29.51%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.00%

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

$266 $266

$144 $144

84.87%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$52.1 $52.1

16.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$53.8 $53.8

41.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$65.7 $65.7

20.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$19.90 $19.90

103.57%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$15.16 $15.16

6.99%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,362 $1,362

67.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$11.7K $11.7K

153.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$53.3 $53.3

30.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$41.62 $41.62

26.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$72.8 $72.8

64.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$129 $129

11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,212 $1,212

96.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$921 $921

102.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$1,770 $1,770

166.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,467 $1,467

139.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,311 $2,311

233.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,300 $2,300

133.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,660 $3,660

77.38%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,212 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 77% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $82.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $330 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

Seattle, WA vs Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Moines, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 77% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,212 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 $82.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,111 in Des Moines, IA – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,111 in Des Moines, IA versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Des Moines, IA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. 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 $2,111 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Des Moines, IA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA 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 70% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.