

Des Moines vs Jefferson City
$17/mo less in Jefferson City
Des MoinesJefferson CityAbout 221 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Jefferson City costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,890/mo in Jefferson City. $2,907/mo in Des Moines. −$204 a year.
Des Moines
$2,907
left each month
Jefferson City
$2,890
−$17 vs Des Moines
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
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−$17 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Des Moines | Jefferson City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,500 | $7,094 | −$406 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,764 | $1,661 | −$103 |
| Take-home pay | $5,736 | $5,433 | −$303 |
| Rent | $991 | $742 | −$249 |
| Getting around | $533 | $533 | $0 |
| Groceries | $360 | $350 | −$10 |
| Healthcare | $405 | $394 | −$11 |
| Utilities | $225 | $219 | −$6 |
| Everything else | $315 | $306 | −$9 |
| Left over | $2,907 | $2,890 | −$17 |
Salary to match Des Moines
$85,500
Gross pay in Jefferson City that leaves the same amount as $90,000 in Des Moines.
Tax difference
−$209
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.5% in Des Moines, 23.4% in Jefferson City.
More about Jefferson City
Des Moines, IA in full
Insurance-sector wages against the lowest housing costs on this list.
Jefferson City, MO in full
State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $883 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.
The other way
Start in Jefferson City.
Jefferson City → Des Moines →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Jefferson City than Des Moines?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Jefferson City leaves about $17 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $991 in Des Moines and $742 in Jefferson City.
Does Jefferson City have state income tax?
Jefferson City is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Des Moines to Jefferson City?
The paycheck is taxed in Missouri. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Des Moines and Jefferson City changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.