Des Moines, Iowa
Living in Des Moines, Iowa is about 16% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 84 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,280 a month, 34% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.82 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 33% of the area's $81,621 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.82
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,280
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$11.50
Combo meal
Electricity
17.06¢
per kWh · ~$154/mo
Car Insurance
$118/mo
$1,420/yr
Median Household Income
$81,621
32.8% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,420 in Des Moines. Compare rates:
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,280/mo in Des Moines. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.14 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$4.77 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.36 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.53 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$5.82 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.06 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.66 | $5.14 | +40.4% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.21 | $4.77 | +13.3% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.35 | $7.36 | +37.6% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.77 | $4.53 | +20.2% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.54 | $5.82 | +28.2% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.75 | $8.06 | +40.2% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$11.50
Casual Dining
$19.71
Monthly Spend
$309.33
+3.27% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $6.38
$10.29
+61.3%Wendy's
2022: $7.20
$11.11
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $7.72
$11.52
+49.2%Starbucks
2022: $3.66
$5.09
+39.1%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Des Moines?
Average 1BR: $1,050/mo · 2BR: $1,510/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
318k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,395
$73k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$82k
household median
Employment by Sector — Des Moines
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$62k/yr
~$92k/yr
~$60k/yr
~$114k/yr
~$27k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 19153
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$2,195/wk · $114k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$523/wk · $27k/yr
Des Moines Cost of Living FAQ
Is Des Moines, IA expensive to live in?
Des Moines has a cost of living index of 84, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 16% cheaper than average. It is the 2nd most affordable of the 8 Iowa cities we track.
What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
Typical rent in Des Moines is $1,280 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 34% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,050 and two bedrooms about $1,510. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Des Moines?
Rent in Des Moines rose 2.2% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Des Moines?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.82 a gallon in Des Moines as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Iowa. That is 4% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Des Moines?
Homes in Iowa pay an average of 17.1 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Des Moines is about $154.
How much is car insurance in Des Moines?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,420 a year in Iowa, or about $118 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Des Moines?
Median household income in the Des Moines area is $81,621 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $26,762 a year, or 33% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
Rent in Des Moines is 4% above the $1,226 average across the 8 Iowa cities we track, and its cost of living index of 84 compares with a state average of 87.
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