

Des Moines vs Minneapolis
$143/mo less in Minneapolis
Des MoinesMinneapolisAbout 244 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Minneapolis costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,764/mo in Minneapolis. $2,907/mo in Des Moines. −$1,716 a year.
Des Moines
$2,907
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,764
−$143 vs Des Moines
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
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In 2022-2023, 303 households moved Des Moines → Minneapolis (avg AGI $68,983). 245 went the other way. The whole move →
−$143 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Des Moines | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,500 | $8,281 | +$781 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,764 | $2,198 | +$434 |
| Take-home pay | $5,736 | $6,084 | +$347 |
| Rent | $991 | $1,366 | +$375 |
| Getting around | $533 | $504 | −$29 |
| Groceries | $360 | $400 | +$40 |
| Healthcare | $405 | $450 | +$45 |
| Utilities | $225 | $250 | +$25 |
| Everything else | $315 | $350 | +$35 |
| Left over | $2,907 | $2,764 | −$143 |
Salary to match Des Moines
$102,000
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $90,000 in Des Moines.
Tax difference
−$2,429
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.5% in Des Moines, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
Des Moines, IA in full
Insurance-sector wages against the lowest housing costs on this list.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Des Moines →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Des Moines?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $143 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $991 in Des Moines and $1,366 in Minneapolis.
Does Minneapolis have state income tax?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Des Moines to Minneapolis?
The paycheck is taxed in Minnesota. 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 Minneapolis 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.