Is $100K a Good Salary in Des Moines? (2026)
Budget breakdown for $100,000 in Des Moines: rent, groceries, transport, and what is left over. Purchasing power = $111,111 nationally.
Things to Know
Des Moines-specific concepts for understanding your $100,000 paycheck
Des Moines Purchasing PowerWhat does $100,000 actually buy you in Des Moines?
Des Moines's index-adjusted cost of living runs roughly 10% below the national average, which puts $100,000 of nominal salary at about $111,111 in national-average purchasing power. Within the Midwest, Des Moines is meaningfully cheaper than Minneapolis, Kansas City, or Chicago, and competitive with Omaha and Indianapolis. Iowa's recently-flattened 3.8% state income tax (the lowest of the 18 states currently covered, with planned future reductions) plus accessible housing (median home price ~$217K, roughly 50% below the national median) produces exceptional real-wage purchasing power — particularly for insurance and financial services workers who can access Hartford-tier employer depth at Midwest cost of living.
Des Moines Housing MathHow does the 28% rule play out in Beaverdale, Highland Park, or West Des Moines?
The 28% rule caps total monthly housing at $2,333 on a $100,000 salary. In Des Moines that ceiling is comfortably above market rent in nearly every neighborhood — median 1BR sits around $1,050/month city-wide, leaving substantial headroom for a larger unit, a better neighborhood, or aggressive savings. Premium areas like Beaverdale, Sherman Hill, the East Village, the Drake neighborhood near Drake University, and West Des Moines's Jordan Creek and Maple Grove command the high end of city rents, and value neighborhoods like Highland Park, the South Side, Capitol Heights, and parts of the East Side offer the most affordable options. For buyers, the metro median home price near $217,000 is among the most accessible of any major U.S. metro (~50% below the national median), with Polk County's effective property tax rate (~1.3-1.6%) modestly above some Sun Belt peers but below most coastal markets. Many workers weigh school districts (West Des Moines and Ankeny are perennial top-rated) and proximity to the West Des Moines/Jordan Creek corporate corridor, the Principal Financial campus downtown, or major suburban office parks.
Iowa's Newly-Flattened 3.8% TaxHow IA's flat 3.8% income tax (no local overlay) shapes your Des Moines take-home
Iowa operates a flat-rate state income tax of 3.8% in 2025, recently flattened from a more progressive structure as part of Iowa's ongoing tax simplification (the rate was 6.0%+ on top brackets as recently as 2022, with planned future reductions taking the rate progressively lower). On $100,000, that costs approximately $3,800/year — among the lowest state-tax burdens of any major U.S. metro. Iowa does not permit city or county-level income taxes, so 3.8% is the entire state-side tax line on your Des Moines paycheck. Sales tax in Des Moines is 7% combined (6% state plus 1% local option), among the more moderate combined rates in the country. Property tax in Polk County runs roughly 1.3-1.6% of assessed value annually — above some Sun Belt peers but below most coastal markets.
$100,000 Lifestyle in Des MoinesCan you hit all five financial benchmarks here?
The five core benchmarks: 15%+ retirement savings, 3-6 month emergency fund, housing under 28% of gross, total debt under 36% DTI, and discretionary headroom for quality of life. At $100,000 in Des Moines, all five benchmarks are achievable simultaneously for a single person and workable for a small family. The city's accessible housing is the main lever that makes this possible. At this income, prioritize maxing employer 401(k) match, building a 6-month emergency fund, and ramping retirement contributions toward the IRS limit over the following few years.
$100,000 in Des Moines has the purchasing power of approximately $111,111 nationally. That puts you comfortably above the local median household income of $58,000 and the $55,000-$80,000 comfortable single-person range. This is a strong professional salary for Des Moines, with comfortable headroom to maximize retirement contributions, build equity, and still maintain a quality lifestyle.
Monthly Budget on $100,000 in Des Moines
Sample budget for a single Des Moines renter at $100,000 gross.
| Budget Item | Monthly | % of Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (median 1BR) | $1,050 | 17% |
| Groceries | $405 | 7% |
| Transportation (car: payment, insurance, fuel) | $440 | 7% |
| Utilities & Phone (MidAmerican Energy+internet+mobile) | $270 | 4% |
| Total Essentials | $2,165 | 35% |
| Remaining for Savings, Investing, Lifestyle | $4,061 | 65% |
Based on estimated take-home of $6,226/month after federal, FICA, and Iowa state tax. Get your exact number: Take-Home Pay Calculator.
Housing on $100,000 in Des Moines
The 30% rule gives you a max rent of $2,500/month. Median 1BR in Des Moines is approximately $1,050/month — well within budget and leaving meaningful headroom for a larger unit, a better neighborhood, or aggressive savings.
Thinking about buying? Des Moines offers some of the most accessible homeownership economics in any major U.S. metro — median home sale prices run roughly $217,000, comfortably affordable on this salary with a standard 20% down payment and conventional mortgage. See Home Affordability Calculator. Polk County's effective property tax rate is roughly 1.3-1.6% of assessed value annually — above some Sun Belt peers but below most coastal markets. Combined with Iowa's recently-flattened 3.8% state income tax (no local overlay, with planned future reductions), total tax burden on Des Moines homeownership runs meaningfully below most major U.S. metros.
How to Evaluate Whether Your Salary Is Enough
A salary number means nothing without context. $100,000 sounds like a strong income — and nationally, it puts you ahead of roughly 67% of individual earners. But whether it is actually enough depends entirely on where you live, how you are taxed, what housing costs, and what your financial goals require.
The five indicators that matter most when evaluating a salary in any city are purchasing power, effective tax rate, housing affordability, income percentile relative to local residents, and savings capacity. Each of these tells you something different about your financial position, and together they give you a complete picture that a raw salary number cannot.
In Des Moines, your $100,000 has a purchasing power equivalent of approximately $111,111 in national average terms. Des Moines's cost of living index runs roughly 10% below the national average, meaning your nominal salary buys somewhat more locally than it would in an average-cost city — primarily driven by accessible housing and modest tax costs.
Understanding Purchasing Power and Cost of Living
Purchasing power measures what your salary can actually buy in a specific location. The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Regional Price Parities (RPPs) that quantify price differences across metro areas. These parities account for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and other essentials — not just rent.
When someone says Des Moines has average costs, they are usually thinking about rent. But cost of living encompasses much more. Groceries in high-cost metros typically run 10-20% above the national average. Transportation varies dramatically — cities with strong public transit like New York save residents thousands per year on car ownership, while car-dependent cities like Houston require $8,000-12,000/year for vehicle costs. Healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket costs also vary by region, with Northeastern cities generally running 5-15% higher than Southern metros.
The practical impact: on $100,000 in Des Moines, after adjusting for all these cost differences, your real spending power is $111,111. Every dollar you earn buys roughly 111 cents of national-average goods and services compared to a national-average city. This is the number you should use when comparing job offers across cities — not the nominal salary.
Federal, State, and FICA Taxes on $100,000
Your gross salary and your take-home pay are two very different numbers. On $100,000, three layers of taxation reduce your paycheck before you see a dollar.
Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system. You do not pay one flat rate on your entire income — instead, each portion of your income is taxed at increasing rates. For 2024-2025, the brackets are 10% on the first $11,600, 12% on $11,601-$47,150, 22% on $47,151-$100,525, and 24% on $100,526-$191,950. After the standard deduction of $14,600, your federal tax on $100,000 is approximately $15,000. Your marginal rate (the rate on your next dollar earned) is 22%, but your effective federal rate is closer to 15%.
FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) are a flat 7.65% on earned income — 6.2% for Social Security (up to the $168,600 wage base in 2024) and 1.45% for Medicare. On $100,000, FICA costs you $7,650/year. Unlike income tax, there is no deduction or bracket — every dollar from the first to the last is taxed.
State income tax varies dramatically. IA charges 3.8% on your income, costing approximately $3,800/year on $100,000. Nine states (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire) charge no state income tax at all. On $100,000, the difference between living in a no-tax state and a high-tax state like California can be $4,000-$10,000 per year — money that goes directly to savings, investments, or quality of life.
Combined, your estimated effective tax rate in Des Moines on $100,000 is approximately 25%, leaving you with roughly $74,709/year or $6,226/month in take-home pay.
The Housing Affordability Rules
Housing is almost always the largest single expense in any budget, and the gap between affordable and unaffordable cities is staggering. Two widely used rules help determine whether your salary supports comfortable housing:
The 28% rule (used by mortgage lenders): total housing costs — rent or mortgage, property tax, insurance, and HOA fees — should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. On $100,000, that means a maximum of $2,333/month for housing.
The 30% rule (used by financial planners): a slightly more generous threshold often applied to renters. On $100,000, that is $2,500/month.
In Des Moines, the median one-bedroom rent is approximately $1,050/month. This falls within the 30% guideline, meaning housing in Des Moines is manageable at this salary level. You have room in your budget for savings, debt payoff, and discretionary spending without housing squeezing everything else.
When housing exceeds 30% of income, financial advisors call this being "cost-burdened." The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the same threshold. Being cost-burdened does not mean you cannot live in a city — it means other goals (retirement savings, emergency fund, travel, investing) get compressed. Understanding this trade-off is essential before accepting a job offer or signing a lease.
How to Compare Job Offers Across Cities
If you are considering a job in Des Moines — or comparing Des Moines to another location — salary is only one variable in the equation. A complete comparison requires five adjustments:
1. Adjust for cost of living. A $100,000 offer in Des Moines has the purchasing power of $111,111 nationally. If you currently earn a higher nominal salary in a more expensive city, the Des Moines offer may actually represent a real-terms raise despite the lower number — Des Moines's lower cost of living and recently-flattened 3.8% state income tax (the lowest of any state covered) compound the difference. Use the salary adjuster at the top of this page to run your specific comparison.
2. Calculate the tax difference. Moving from a no-tax state to IA costs you approximately $3,800/year in state taxes alone. Factor this into any negotiation.
3. Value the full compensation package. Base salary is often 60-80% of total compensation. Employer 401(k) match (typically 3-6% of salary), health insurance (employer-paid premiums worth $6,000-15,000/year), equity or RSUs, signing bonuses, and paid time off all have real dollar values. A lower salary with a 6% 401(k) match and fully paid health insurance may net you more than a higher salary with a 3% match and high-deductible plan.
4. Factor in commute costs. A 30-minute longer commute costs you roughly 250 hours per year — over six full work weeks. Assign a dollar value to that time ($25-50/hour for most professionals) and add transportation costs. In Des Moines, most residents rely on personal vehicles, so budget $6,000-12,000/year for car ownership including payments, insurance, gas, and maintenance.
5. Consider lifestyle costs. Dining out, entertainment, gym memberships, childcare, and healthcare costs all vary by city. Des Moines's moderate costs mean your discretionary budget stretches comfortably.
Building Financial Security on $100,000
Regardless of where you live, financial security comes from consistently executing three habits: saving an adequate percentage of income, maintaining a fully funded emergency reserve, and investing for long-term growth. Here is what each looks like at your income level in Des Moines.
Savings rate target: 20% of take-home. On $74,709/year take-home in Des Moines, a 20% savings rate means setting aside $14,942/year ($1,245/month). This covers retirement contributions, emergency fund building, and other savings goals combined. If 20% feels out of reach, start at 10% and increase by 1% every quarter until you reach 20%.
Emergency fund: 3-6 months of essential expenses. Essential expenses typically run 50-60% of take-home pay — housing, food, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments. In Des Moines, a 6-month emergency fund would be approximately $20,546. Build this before investing aggressively. A high-yield savings account earning 4-5% APY keeps your emergency fund growing while remaining fully liquid.
Retirement savings benchmarks. Fidelity recommends saving 1x your salary by age 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 10x by 67. On $100,000, that means having $100,000 saved by 30, $300,000 by 40, and $600,000 by 50. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, contribute at least enough to capture the full match — that is an immediate 50-100% return on your money. After the match, consider a Roth IRA (income limits apply) for tax-free growth.
Debt management. If you carry high-interest debt (credit cards at 20%+ APR), prioritize paying it off before investing beyond the employer match. The guaranteed 20% return from eliminating credit card debt exceeds any realistic investment return. Once high-interest debt is cleared, direct that payment toward savings and investing.
Common Mistakes When Evaluating Salary by Location
Comparing nominal salaries without adjusting for cost of living. A $120,000 offer in San Francisco has less purchasing power than a $90,000 offer in Raleigh. Always convert to purchasing-power-adjusted terms before comparing. The interactive tool at the top of this page does this automatically.
Ignoring state and local taxes. The difference between a 0% state tax (Texas, Florida, Washington) and a 9-13% state tax (California, New York, New Jersey) can equal $5,000-$20,000/year on the same salary. This is real money that compounds over a career — $10,000/year invested at 7% for 20 years grows to $438,000.
Anchoring to rent without considering total housing costs. Rent is the most visible cost, but property tax (if buying), renter's or homeowner's insurance, utilities, and maintenance add 20-40% on top of base housing cost. In Des Moines, utilities typically run $150-250/month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Overlooking non-salary compensation. Two offers with identical salaries can differ by $15,000-30,000 in total value once you factor in 401(k) match, health insurance, equity, PTO, and other benefits. Always compare total compensation, not base salary.
Not planning for lifestyle inflation. When your income increases — whether from a raise, promotion, or city move — the natural tendency is to increase spending proportionally. This is lifestyle inflation, and it is the primary reason high earners often have surprisingly low net worth. Set your savings rate first, then live on what remains. A $100,000 salary with a 20% savings rate builds wealth faster than a $130,000 salary with a 5% savings rate.
Failing to negotiate. Most salary offers have 10-20% negotiation room, especially for experienced candidates. Research comparable salaries using tools like this one, know your purchasing-power-adjusted number, and present a data-driven case. The cost-of-living comparison feature above gives you exactly the evidence you need.
Key Indicators at a Glance
| Indicator | Your Number | Guideline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $100,000/year | National median: $59,000 | Above median |
| Take-Home Pay | $74,709/year | — | 75% of gross |
| Purchasing Power | $111,111 | = gross in avg city | 28% above avg |
| Housing (30% rule) | Max $2,500/mo | Median 1BR: $1,050 | Within budget |
| State Tax | 3.8% | Range: 0-13.3% | $3,800/yr cost |
| vs City Median | $100,000 | Des Moines: $58,000 | +72% vs local |
Des Moines: Financial Landscape
Des Moines combines an unusually deep insurance and financial services cluster — global hub status trailing only Hartford and the New York/Northeast complex, anchored by Principal Financial Group's Fortune 500 HQ, Wellmark BCBS, Nationwide, EMC Insurance, and 80+ insurance-related businesses — with one of the most accessible housing markets of any major U.S. metro (median home price ~$217K, roughly 50% below the national median). Combined with Iowa's flat 3.8% state income tax (recently flattened, with planned future reductions), no local income tax overlay, and a cost of living roughly 10% below the national average, Des Moines delivers exceptional real-wage purchasing power for insurance, finance, and healthcare professionals.
At $100,000, Des Moines delivers strong purchasing power relative to most peer metros — your nominal salary translates to roughly $111,111 in national-average purchasing power. The key financial decisions at this income center on neighborhood choice, rent-versus-buy timing, and tax-advantaged retirement contributions. The sections below break down the local economic context shaping those choices.
Economic Profile
Des Moines's economy spans insurance and financial services (Des Moines is a global hub of the insurance industry, trailing only Hartford, CT and the New York/Northeast complex — insurance accounts for roughly 16% of regional jobs across 80+ businesses; Principal Financial Group's Fortune 500 HQ at $400M+ corporate office renovation, Wellmark BCBS, Nationwide, EMC Insurance, FBL Financial, GuideOne Insurance, Holmes Murphy, NCMIC, plus newer relocations like Symetra Financial drawn by Iowa's favorable regulatory and tax climate), state government (Iowa state capital), healthcare (UnityPoint Health, Mercy Medical Center, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — together anchoring a deep clinical workforce), advanced manufacturing and agribusiness (John Deere Des Moines Works, Pella Corporation, Vermeer Corp., Kreg Tool, JBS USA, Corteva Agriscience, plus the broader Iowa agricultural-equipment and food-processing supply chain), and a growing tech and data-center cluster (Amazon and Microsoft data center investments in central Iowa, plus Casey's General Stores Fortune 1000 HQ in Ankeny). The Des Moines metropolitan area has a population of approximately 720,000, with the city of Des Moines itself at roughly 215,000 (Iowa's largest city). The metro spans Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, and Guthrie counties, with major employment concentrated in downtown Des Moines, the West Des Moines/Jordan Creek corporate corridor (where Principal Financial, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and many insurance HQs operate), Ankeny (Casey's General Stores), and Urbandale. Metro population is forecast to grow ~5.3% over five years (more than double the national average), continuing Des Moines's run as one of the most consistently growing mid-sized U.S. metros. Forbes has repeatedly ranked Des Moines among the top cities for young professionals and the best for jobs.
Job Market & Top Employers
Des Moines's job market is anchored by an unusual combination of insurance and financial services concentration, state government, and healthcare. Insurance is the dominant sector — accounting for roughly 16% of regional jobs across 80+ businesses, anchored by Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500 #263, with $400M+ corporate office renovation underway), Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (1,800 Iowa+SD employees), Nationwide (3,300+), EMC Insurance, FBL Financial, GuideOne Insurance, Holmes Murphy, and NCMIC. The State of Iowa is a major employer as state capital. Healthcare adds UnityPoint Health, Mercy Medical Center, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics network.
Banking and finance form the second pillar — Wells Fargo Home Mortgage operates a major Des Moines facility, plus Bankers Trust Co., West Bank, and the broader regional banking ecosystem. Advanced manufacturing and agribusiness add John Deere Des Moines Works, Pella Corporation (windows/doors, 2,224), Vermeer Corp. (in nearby Pella), Kreg Tool, JBS USA Marshalltown (pork processing, 2,300), and Corteva Agriscience in Johnston (global agriculture, 2,255). Casey's General Stores in Ankeny (Fortune 1000 convenience store chain), Meredith Corporation (publishing), Maverik/Kum & Go (2,000), and the J.M. Smucker Co. round out major non-insurance corporate employment. Tech and data centers are a fast-growing sector — Amazon and Microsoft have made significant data center investments in central Iowa, leveraging the state's low energy costs and strong fiber infrastructure.
Tax Environment
Iowa operates a flat-rate state income tax of 3.8% in 2025, recently flattened from a more progressive structure as part of Iowa's ongoing tax simplification (the rate was 6.0%+ on top brackets as recently as 2022, with planned future reductions taking the rate progressively lower). The flat structure means take-home math is simple to model — no progressive brackets to track, no city or county-level income tax overlay, and no exotic local levies.
Sales tax in Des Moines is 7% combined (6% state plus 1% local option), among the more moderate combined rates in the country. Property tax in Polk County runs roughly 1.3-1.6% of assessed value annually — above some Sun Belt peers but below most coastal markets, and varies modestly by municipality (West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Urbandale have slightly different effective rates than the city of Des Moines proper). For tax planning, the flat 3.8% Iowa rate means pre-tax retirement contributions deliver consistent state-tax savings regardless of income tier — among the lowest state-tax savings of any of the 18 states currently covered, but offset by exceptional housing affordability. Use our Take-Home Pay Calculator to model your tax burden, and the Iowa State Tax Guide for a detailed breakdown.
Housing Market
Des Moines's housing market is among the most accessible of any major U.S. metro. The median home sale price in the Des Moines metro was approximately $217,000 in February 2026 — up 8.3% year-over-year and sitting roughly 50% below the national median. Median 1BR rent in the city is approximately $1,050-$1,150/month, with significant variation: premium neighborhoods like Beaverdale, the Drake area, the East Village, and West Des Moines's Jordan Creek/Maple Grove command $1,200-$1,500 for newer construction, while value neighborhoods like Highland Park, the South Side, and Capitol Heights rent in the $750-$950 range. Inner-suburb rentals (West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, Waukee) typically run $1,100-$1,500 with newer construction and stronger school districts.
The buy-versus-rent calculus in Des Moines tilts strongly toward buying for stable workers because home prices are exceptionally accessible (a worker earning $75,000 can typically afford a $260,000+ home with standard down payment), property tax in Polk County runs roughly 1.3-1.6% of assessed value annually (above some Sun Belt peers but below most coastal markets), and the metro's stable Fortune 500 insurance and finance employment base supports long-term home equity appreciation. Many buyers weigh school districts (West Des Moines and Ankeny are perennial top-rated districts in the metro) and proximity to the West Des Moines/Jordan Creek corporate corridor, the Principal Financial campus downtown, or major suburban office parks.
Cost of Living Beyond Housing
Des Moines's day-to-day costs run meaningfully below the national average across most categories. Housing is the primary affordability driver — median home prices around $217,000 are roughly 50% below the national median — but groceries, dining, utilities, and transportation also typically run below national averages. Hot, humid summers drive meaningful air-conditioning costs, but mild relative-to-Minnesota winters keep total utility bills reasonable.
Healthcare access is strong thanks to UnityPoint Health, Mercy Medical Center, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics network. Cultural amenities — the Iowa Cubs (AAA baseball at Principal Park), the Des Moines Art Center, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the State Fair of Iowa, the Iowa Wild AHL hockey team, plus easy access to Iowa State football in Ames (35 miles north) and University of Iowa football in Iowa City (~2 hours east) — are accessible at price points among the lowest of any major U.S. metro. The biggest cost-of-living advantage is the combination of dramatically accessible housing prices, Iowa's recently-flattened 3.8% state income tax, and the absence of any local income tax overlay.
Des Moines: A Global Insurance Capital
Des Moines's defining economic feature is its concentration of insurance and financial services employment. The metro is a global hub of the insurance industry, trailing only Hartford, Connecticut and the New York/Northeast complex in scale and depth. Insurance accounts for roughly 16% of regional jobs across more than 80 insurance-related businesses, anchored by Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500 #263 — currently investing $400+ million in a downtown corporate office renovation), Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa (headquartered in Des Moines since 1939), Nationwide Insurance (3,300+ Des Moines employees), EMC Insurance Companies, FBL Financial Group, GuideOne Insurance, Holmes Murphy & Associates, and NCMIC. Symetra Financial Corporation moved operations from Washington State to Iowa specifically citing Iowa's favorable regulatory climate, exemplifying ongoing in-migration to the Des Moines insurance cluster.
Beyond insurance, Des Moines hosts a deep finance-and-banking sector (Wells Fargo Home Mortgage's major Des Moines operation, Bankers Trust Co., West Bank, plus the smaller community banking ecosystem), Iowa state government as the state capital, healthcare (UnityPoint Health, Mercy Medical Center, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), advanced manufacturing (John Deere Des Moines Works, Pella Corporation, Vermeer, Kreg Tool), and agribusiness (Corteva Agriscience in Johnston, JBS USA in Marshalltown, plus the broader Iowa agricultural-equipment supply chain). Combined with Iowa's flat 3.8% state income tax in 2025 (recently flattened from a more progressive structure as part of Iowa's ongoing tax simplification), accessible housing (median home price ~$217K — roughly 50% below the national median), and a cost of living roughly 10% below the national average, Des Moines delivers exceptional purchasing power on most professional salaries — particularly for insurance and financial services workers who can access Hartford-tier employer depth at Midwest cost of living.
Financial Planning in Des Moines
At $100,000 in Des Moines, three priorities stand out. First, maximize pre-tax retirement contributions: every dollar contributed to a 401(k) or traditional IRA reduces both your federal tax and your Iowa state tax (3.8% flat) — Iowa's recently-flattened rate is the lowest of any state in the calculator's coverage, and planned future reductions make this strategy increasingly favorable. Second, weigh housing decisions carefully — Des Moines's accessible housing is your biggest cost-of-living advantage, but choices like neighborhood and city-vs-suburb meaningfully affect both monthly carrying cost and long-term wealth-building. Third, take advantage of Des Moines's housing accessibility while it lasts — building home equity is more achievable here than in most peer metros. Use our Cost of Living Calculator to compare Des Moines against other cities, and the 50/30/20 Budget Calculator to build your spending plan.
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