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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 $50K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Iowa using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Des Moines…
210,381 residents · Iowa
A closer look at Des Moines: the cost index of 88 breaks down to a Housing index of 69 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 90 (weakest). Median rent is $1,141/month — 40% below the national median — while household income sits at $63,966, meaning locals spend about 21% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard. The definition of value.
135,958 residents · Iowa
The numbers for Cedar Rapids are straightforward: 88 on the cost index, $1,158/month rent, $67,859 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's more or less in line with the region.
#1 Ranked: Des Moines — cost index 88, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K 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 | 27% | 88 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $1,158 | 28% | 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 $50K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. 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.
Look, 2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. This is worth factoring into any relocation decision.
Let's be clear: Des Moines comes in at #1. And with some exceptions, it lines up with what you'd expect. Rent is $1,141 a month. Household income is $63,966. The cost of living index is 88. Nothing too surprising there (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Hard to argue with that.
Perhaps more importantly, Across Iowa, the average cost of living index is 88 — 24 points below the national median. And more often than not, known for Midwest stability with bargain-level costs, the state offers 2 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,150/month. That's $745 less than the national average of $1,895. That could be a concern depending on your priorities.
Bottom line: Des Moines leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. That's more or less in line with the region. 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% | $37,272 |
2Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $37,272 |
Des Moines ranks #1 in Iowa for this analysis with a cost index of 88 and median income of $63,966.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Des Moines, rent would consume about 27% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
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 $50K in Des Moines is approximately $37,272/year ($3,106/month). After median rent of $1,141/month, you'd have roughly $23,580/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.