Des Moines, IA → Chicago, IL
Moving from Des Moines to Chicago
Chicago costs you $517 a month versus Des Moines. −$6,204 a year.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 331 households moved Des Moines → Chicago (about 426 people, average AGI $63,840). 271 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
| Per month | Des Moines | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home | $5,736 | $6,075 |
| Rent | $1,005 | $1,828 |
| All other costs | $1,838 | $1,871 |
| Left over | $2,893 | $2,376 |
Full line-by-line comparison →
Dig into Chicago
Paycheck
Take-home pay after tax and rent, and what's left at the end of the month.
Who moved
Which metros people actually left and arrived from, according to IRS tax returns.
Rent vs buy
Asking rent, the median home, property tax, and months to a down payment.
Monthly costs
Groceries, getting around, utilities, healthcare and childcare at your household size.
Daily life
Homicide and firearm death rates, heat, cars and commute.
Kids
Public-school enrollment, pupil–teacher ratio, bedrooms and childcare.