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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Iowa's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Des Moines at index 88, where median rent of $1,141/month saves renters $9,048/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Iowa's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Des Moines at index 88, where median rent of $1,141/month saves renters $9,048/year versus the national median.
Frankly, Rent data is sourced from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks the median rent across all active listings — not just new leases. This gives a more representative and stable signal than asking prices alone. Des Moines: $1,141/mo — not a number you see very often, by the way — , Cedar Rapids: $1,158/mo. The cheapest city here is $754 under the national median — that's $9,048/year in savings on rent alone (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
In plain English: So, Des Moines. And more often than not, cost index of 88, rent at $1,141/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $63,966, which is below the national median. It lines up with what you'd expect. That's not nothing.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. You get the picture. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Des Moines, the healthcare index sits at 90 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Bottom line: Des Moines leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And as a general rule, it's fine. Not great, not bad. 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.
#1 Ranked: Des Moines — cost index 88, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
210,381 residents · Iowa
Dive into Des Moines's numbers: cost index 88 (24 points below national average), rent $1,141/month, income $63,966, and a home price of $204,843. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 69, while Healthcare runs 90. With 210,381 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (your mileage may vary — literally).
135,958 residents · Iowa
Dive into Cedar Rapids's numbers: cost index 88 (24 points below national average), rent $1,158/month, income $67,859, and a home price of $204,214. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 70, while Healthcare runs 90. With 135,958 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs. Quietly competitive.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $1,141 | 88 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $1,158 | 88 | Details |
Cities are ranked by median 1-bedroom rent from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI). ZORI reflects the median rent across all listed units, not just new leases, providing a more stable and representative figure. 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.
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.
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.