Cost comparison
Compare rent, housing, utilities, groceries, salary needs, and move score across the city profiles currently available in LifeAtlas.
Iowa
Des Moines is the state-capital insurance and job market in Iowa, promoted in source-ready batch 03 for comparisons around housing, wages, utilities, taxes, benefits, 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
West Des Moines has the lower salary-needed estimate, while Des Moines has the lower starter rent. Differences are shown as West Des Moines minus Des Moines.
| Metric | Des Moines | West Des Moines | Difference | Advantage | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,218 | $1,341 | +$123 | Des Moines | Des Moines has the lower median rent. |
| Home price | $271,400 | $324,340 | +$52,940 | Des Moines | Des Moines has the lower home price. |
| Utilities | $162/mo | $175/mo | +$13/mo | Des Moines | Des Moines has the lower utilities. |
| Groceries index | 94 | 97 | +3 | Des Moines | Des Moines has the lower groceries index. |
| Salary needed | $59,280 | $47,970 | -$11,310 | West Des Moines | West Des Moines has the lower salary needed. |
| Move score | 83/100 | 84/100 | +1 | West Des Moines | West Des Moines has the higher move score. |