Cost comparison
Compare rent, housing, utilities, groceries, salary needs, and move score across the city profiles currently available in LifeAtlas.
Iowa
Ames is a college-town and research market in Iowa, useful for starter comparisons around rent, housing, utilities, wages, benefits, insurance, and moving costs.
Iowa
West Des Moines is a supplemental starter city profile for the Des Moines-area jobs and family market in Iowa, useful for route coverage and starter comparisons around rent, housing, utilities, wages, benefits, insurance, and moving costs.
Comparison
Ames has the lower salary-needed estimate, while Ames has the lower starter rent. Differences are shown as West Des Moines minus Ames.
| Metric | Ames | West Des Moines | Difference | Advantage | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $924 | $1,341 | +$417 | Ames | Ames has the lower median rent. |
| Home price | $197,800 | $324,340 | +$126,540 | Ames | Ames has the lower home price. |
| Utilities | $174/mo | $175/mo | +$1/mo | Ames | Ames has the lower utilities. |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 | 0 | Even | Groceries index is the same in both cities. |
| Salary needed | $46,800 | $47,970 | +$1,170 | Ames | Ames has the lower salary needed. |
| Move score | 84/100 | 84/100 | 0 | Even | Move score is the same in both cities. |