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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 111 — for better or worse — . Leading the pack: Des Moines at index 67, where median rent of $1,141/month saves renters $9,048/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Des Moines — cost index 67, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Iowa's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111 — for better or worse — . Leading the pack: Des Moines at index 67, where median rent of $1,141/month saves renters $9,048/year versus the national median.
Dive into Des Moines's numbers: cost index 67 (44 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 67, while Healthcare runs 93. With 210,381 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
(Tangentially — this is the kind of city where you can actually build equity on a median salary, which is increasingly rare.)
Zooming out, State context matters: Iowa's 2 cities average a 68 cost index with $1,150/month median rent and $65,913 household income. Midwest stability with bargain-level costs. Cross-reference this ranking with the state salary page. The overlap is telling.
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.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $1,141 | 46% | 67 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $1,158 | 46% | 68 | Details |
210,381 residents · Iowa
A closer look at Des Moines: the cost index of 67 breaks down to a Housing index of 67 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (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.
135,958 residents · Iowa
Cedar Rapids earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 68 cost index sits 43 points below the national baseline, and the $67,859 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $204,214 — $263,156 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 68, while Healthcare trails at 94.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Des Moines | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $22,627 |
2Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $22,627 |
We model what a $30K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 67 and median income of $63,966.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Des Moines, rent would consume about 46% 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 67 and rent of $1,141/mo, while Cedar Rapids (ranked #2) has a cost index of 68 and rent of $1,158/mo — a 1-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 $30K in Des Moines is approximately $22,627/year ($1,886/month). After median rent of $1,141/month, you'd have roughly $8,935/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.