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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Iowa using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Des Moines comes ou…
210,381 residents · Iowa
Here's Des Moines by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And roughly speaking, cost index: 88. Rent: $1,141/month — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — . Income: $63,966/year. Home price: $204,843. Population: 210,381. The strongest category is Housing at 69; the most expensive is Healthcare at 90. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $9,048 per year vs. the national median. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
135,958 residents · Iowa
A closer look at Cedar Rapids: the cost index of 88 breaks down to a Housing index of 70 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 90 (weakest). Median rent is $1,158/month — 39% below the national median — while household income sits at $67,859, meaning locals spend about 20% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
#1 Ranked: Des Moines — cost index 88, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $1,141 | 34% | 88 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $1,158 | 35% | 88 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Iowa using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Des Moines comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
What does daily life actually cost in Des Moines? Start with the 21% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 69) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 90) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $63,966 and homes at $204,843 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
On a $40K salary, the key number is $1,000/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Des Moines ($1,141/mo, 34%), Cedar Rapids ($1,158/mo, 35%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $30,092 to $30,092/year across these top picks.
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. And more often than not, the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
There's more to the story, though. And on balance, iowa — Midwest stability with bargain-level costs. The 2 cities we track here average a cost index of 88 and median income of $65,913. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,150/month, which is $745 less than the national median.
Bottom line: Des Moines leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Des Moines | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $30,092 |
2Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $30,092 |
We calculate what percentage of a $40K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Des Moines ranks #1 in Iowa for this analysis with a cost index of 88 and median income of $63,966.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Des Moines, rent would consume about 34% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Des Moines (ranked #1) has a cost index of 88 and rent of $1,141/mo, while Cedar Rapids (ranked #2) has a cost index of 88 and rent of $1,158/mo — a 0-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Des Moines is $1,141/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $754 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.7% state income tax, estimated take-home on $40K in Des Moines is approximately $30,092/year ($2,508/month). After median rent of $1,141/month, you'd have roughly $16,400/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Des Moines is $204,843, which is 3.2× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Iowa has a 5.7% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.94%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.43%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.