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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 roughly speaking, des Moines leads at an index of 67 — we had to double-check this one — with rent at just $1,141/month — 40% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the number…
#1 Ranked: Des Moines — cost index 67, rent $1,141/mo, income $63,966
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Des Moines | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $46,301 |
2Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $46,301 |
Iowa is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And roughly speaking, des Moines leads at an index of 67 — we had to double-check this one — 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.
Des Moines is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,141/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 67. Income sits at $63,966. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (5.7% in Des Moines), combined state+local sales tax (6.94%), and effective property tax (1.43%). At 5.7% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Des Moines is $53,435/year (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). The definition of value.
None of this exists in a vacuum, though. Pretty standard for this type of city. Iowa — Midwest stability with bargain-level costs. The 2 cities we track here average a cost index of 68 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 (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.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | 67 | $1,141 | Details |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | 68 | $1,158 | Details |
210,381 residents · Iowa
The #1 spot goes to Des Moines, and the breakdown explains why. And from what we can tell, fairly typical for a city this size. 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).
135,958 residents · Iowa
Look, the numbers for Cedar Rapids are straightforward: 68 on the cost index, $1,158/month — we had to double-check this one — rent, $67,859 income. That tracks. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. 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.
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.
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.