Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa local scene.
Photo by Paul Grillo from Des Moines, IA, USA via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Des Moines, Iowa cost of living

Des Moines combines moderate planning rent with a Very high property tax display

The local estimate is $2,938 per month. The visible planning anchors are $894 for a typical one bedroom, $1,134 for a two bedroom, $472 groceries, $1,077 transportation, $495 healthcare, $212 utilities, and a dining metric of 80.2. The traveler estimate is $4,046 and the couple estimate is $4,456. These are estimates, not quotes.

The Very high property tax display uses a 1.80 percent effective rate screen, $3,496 median real estate taxes paid, and a $194,700 median home value. A renter and an owner face different lines, so compare the actual lease or parcel with insurance, heating, repairs, car costs, and reserves.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,938 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$894
Utilities (in rent)
$212
Food
$472/mo
Transportation
$1,077/mo
Healthcare
$495

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,046

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,456

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$894

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$237/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Recommended
Property Taxes
Very high

Poor

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
11.3%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
26.9%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
36.1%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$48,181

Could Des Moines fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

Your entries stay in this browser and are not included in analytics.

Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,938 per month
Two people
$4,456 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$894
Food
$472
Transportation
$1,077
Healthcare
$495

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Des Moines in everyday life

Could Des Moines work for you?

What may work well

  • The $2,938 local estimate, $894 one bedroom, $1,134 two bedroom, and $4,456 couple estimate create clear comparison anchors.
  • The public library, trails, care cluster, 450.89 Mbps internet, and airport access add practical options beyond the rent line.
  • A Recommended car label gives a clear prompt to price routes, maintenance, parking, winter, and backup rides instead of assuming daily independence.

What to think about

  • Very high property taxes can reshape ownership even when the median home value is $194,700.
  • The $1,077 transportation estimate can grow with insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, repairs, and winter driving.
  • The published figures are planning estimates and do not replace the selected lease, parcel bill, household coverage, or reserve plan.

Plan the Des Moines budget around taxes, housing, care, and driving

  1. Price the selected home

    Compare the $894 one bedroom or $1,134 two bedroom anchor with the actual lease or purchase, utilities, parking, insurance, heating, cooling, maintenance, repairs, and reserves.

  2. Write the Recommended car line

    Start with $1,077 transportation, then add insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, repairs, backup rides, care, groceries, trails, DART, and winter route costs.

  3. Verify the tax bill

    Use the Very high display, 1.80 percent effective screen, $3,496 median tax, and $194,700 median home value as comparison inputs, then verify the parcel bill and owner costs.

  4. Use the decision actions

    Save the strongest Des Moines budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after rent, taxes, care, car, utilities, winter, and reserve questions are answered.

Questions retirees ask

What is the Des Moines local estimate?

The local planning estimate is $2,938 per month. It uses $894 one bedroom housing, $472 groceries, $1,077 transportation, $495 healthcare, $212 utilities, and an 80.2 dining metric. Treat it as an estimate, not a quote.

Why is the property tax display important?

It is Very high, with a 1.80 percent effective screen and $3,496 median real estate taxes paid. Verify the selected parcel, insurance, heating, maintenance, repairs, utilities, and reserves.

Can a lower priced home solve the budget?

Not by itself. Compare the tax bill, insurance, heating, maintenance, repairs, parking, transportation, care routes, winter support, and reserves with the purchase price.

What changes for a couple?

The couple estimate is $4,456 and the two bedroom anchor is $1,134. Review housing, food, transportation, healthcare, utilities, coverage, visitors, parking, and reserves together.

Does the Recommended car label mean transit is absent?

No. DART is a regional transit resource. The label means the chosen home still deserves a personal review of care, groceries, pharmacy, trails, parking, weather, and backup rides.

Des Moines can offer a manageable planning rent alongside strong civic and care resources, but Very high property taxes and a Recommended car plan deserve a full owner budget. Save the strongest budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after taxes, routes, heating, care, and reserves are visible.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.

Partner with Retirement Lists

Research and writing by

How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.