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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,084 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,130 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $4,177 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 74% more expensive than in Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Des Moines, IA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$15.77 $15.77

58.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$78.9 $78.9

49.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.80 $11.80

16.61%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.87 $4.87

20.12%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.31 $2.31

32.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.95 $1.95

22.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.14 $5.14

54.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.95 $6.95

12.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.91 $0.91

52.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.53 $2.53

92.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.25 $2.25

130.22%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.66 $3.66

82.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$12.55 $12.55

101.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.62 $10.62

49.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$12.82 $12.82

57.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.39 $4.39

41.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.50 $1.50

92.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.65 $3.65

50.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$3.41 $3.41

87.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.60 $1.60

93.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.95 $2.95

28.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.29 $2.29

22.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.13 $1.13

130.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.02 $7.02

62.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.17 $15.17

2.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.68 $1.68

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.10 $4.10

3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.79 $1.79

50.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$58.3 $58.3

73.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.96 $1.96

36.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.23 $1.23

38.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$20.18 $20.18

46.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.78 $0.78

46.15%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

29.78%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.3K $24.3K

8.95%

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

$261 $261

$147 $147

77.85%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$50.4 $50.4

19.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$54.2 $54.2

39.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$66.1 $66.1

19.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$19.61 $19.61

104.39%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.11 $15.11

4.70%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,353 $1,353

63.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$11.9K $11.9K

149.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$53.4 $53.4

30.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$41.44 $41.44

25.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$73.6 $73.6

58.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$128 $128

8.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,246 $1,246

86.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$923 $923

102.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,732 $1,732

172.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$1,488 $1,488

139.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,302 $2,302

232.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,294 $2,294

119.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,975 $3,975

63.92%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,246 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 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 74% 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.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,246 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 $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,084 in Des Moines, IA – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,084 in Des Moines, IA versus $3,621 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 $2,084 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 74% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.