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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Iowa is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And broadly, des Moines leads at an index of 67 with rent at just $1,141/month — 40% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (…
210,381 residents · Iowa
Dive into Des Moines's numbers: cost index 67 — we had to double-check this one — (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.
135,958 residents · Iowa
A closer look at Cedar Rapids: the cost index of 68 breaks down to a Housing index of 68 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (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 67, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K 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 | 23% | 67 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $1,158 | 23% | 68 | Details |
Iowa is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And broadly, des Moines leads at an index of 67 with rent at just $1,141/month — 40% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (more on that below).
Look, the #1 spot goes to Des Moines, and the breakdown explains why. And in most cases, renters here pay $1,141/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — saving renters $9,048 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 67, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. At a 21% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget (that's pre-tax, of course).
On a $60K salary, the key number is $1,500/month — a detail that tends to get overlooked — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Des Moines ($1,141/mo, 23%), Cedar Rapids ($1,158/mo, 23%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $43,737 to $43,737/year across these top picks.
Here's the asterisk: Across Iowa, the average cost of living index is 68 — 43 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Des Moines | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $43,737 |
2Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $43,737 |
We model what a $60K 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 $60K salary in Des Moines, rent would consume about 23% 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 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 $60K in Des Moines is approximately $43,737/year ($3,645/month). After median rent of $1,141/month, you'd have roughly $30,045/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.