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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,172 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,288 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,404 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 79% more expensive than in Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Des Moines, IA 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$19.90 $19.90

25.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$81.1 $81.1

23.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.21 $12.21

23.34%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.98 $5.98

6.52%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.06 $3.06

0.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.56 $2.56

17.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.04 $5.04

54.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.66 $5.66

45.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.91 $0.91

32.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.90 $2.90

72.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.25 $3.25

96.62%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.98 $3.98

28.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$9.35 $9.35

125.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$9.44 $9.44

94.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$13.77 $13.77

74.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.33 $4.33

36.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.52 $1.52

23.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.42 $4.42

19.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.65 $3.65

77.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.14 $3.14

17.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.20 $2.20

52.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.41 $2.41

15.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 $2.18

18.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$7.86 $7.86

77.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.08 $15.08

-0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.69 $1.69

153.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.96 $2.96

97.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.77 $1.77

64.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$59.0 $59.0

84.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.98 $1.98

29.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.22 $1.22

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$19.89 $19.89

52.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.94 $0.94

48.94%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.6K $35.6K

1.38%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.62%

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

$299 $299

$189 $189

58.83%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$52.0 $52.0

33.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$70.0 $70.0

25.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$63.7 $63.7

25.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$19.91 $19.91

75.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.14 $15.14

16.91%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,178 $1,178

156.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$11.8K $11.8K

162.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$60.7 $60.7

27.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$42.97 $42.97

28.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$101 $101

26.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$146 $146

9.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,182 $1,182

110.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$869 $869

122.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,746 $1,746

172.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,430 $1,430

154.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,294 $2,294

230.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,290 $2,290

123.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,920 $3,920

58.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,182 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $344 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 79% 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 59% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,182 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 $81.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,172 in Des Moines, IA – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,172 in Des Moines, IA versus $3,880 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 $2,172 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 79% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.