Des Moines, IA

Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$2,829/mo in Des Moines. $2,910 left each month. Prices 10% below the US average.

Compare vs Chicago Rank metros from Des MoinesHow we figure this

Monthly costs

Take-home $5,739/mo.

Taxes$1,765
Rent$991
Other living costs$1,838
Left over$2,910

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $90,057
Federal income tax: −$11,427
Social Security and Medicare: −$6,889
State income tax (IA): −$2,867
Take-home pay: $68,874
Effective tax rate: 23.5%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $991
Groceries: $360
Getting around: $533
Healthcare: $405
Utilities and internet: $225
Everything else: $315
Total spending: $2,829

Left over each month

$7,505 gross, minus $1,765 in tax and $2,829 in living costs.

$2,910

Average electric bill in Iowa

About $123 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for Iowa in 2025, 13.62¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a Des Moines utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Cost of Living in Des Moines, IA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

Monthly costs

Pay and tax, per year

Living costs, per month

Average electric bill in Iowa

Take-home by job in Des Moines

Other Iowa metros

Compare Des Moines