Madison, WI vs Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Des Moines, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Madison, WI.

Madison, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,835 / month
Des Moines, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,260 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Madison, WI and Des Moines, IA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Madison, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,059/month in Des Moines, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,293 in Des Moines, IA

Regional cost estimates: Madison, WI uses Madison, WI Metropolitan Area. Des Moines, IA uses Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 14.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,059

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Madison, WI

Population:270K

Cost Index:

105.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$427K

Des Moines, IA

Population:214K

Cost Index:

90.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$228K

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Madison, WI

The Badger State

270K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 270K residents.

Des Moines, IA

The Hawkeye State

214K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 214K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Madison, WI vs Des Moines, IA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Madison, WI	Des Moines, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,538/mo	$1,916/mo	↓ $623less	24.5%
Other	$1,651/mo	$1,481/mo	↓ $170less	10.3%
Transportation	$1,297/mo	$1,145/mo	↓ $151less	11.7%
Groceries	$884/mo	$838/mo	↓ $46.04less	5.2%
All Utilities	$468/mo	$433/mo	↓ $35.25less	7.5%
Healthcare	$662/mo	$628/mo	↓ $34.26less	5.2%

Housing

↓ 24.5%

Madison, WI

$2,538

Des Moines, IA

$1,916

Difference

$623

less

Other

↓ 10.3%

Madison, WI

$1,651

Des Moines, IA

$1,481

Difference

$170

less

Transportation

↓ 11.7%

Madison, WI

$1,297

Des Moines, IA

$1,145

Difference

$151

less

Groceries

↓ 5.2%

Madison, WI

$884

Des Moines, IA

$838

Difference

$46.04

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.5%

Madison, WI

$468

Des Moines, IA

$433

Difference

$35.25

less

Healthcare

↓ 5.2%

Madison, WI

$662

Des Moines, IA

$628

Difference

$34.26

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,370

To$1,020

↓ $350

1 Bed

From$1,605

To$1,060

↓ $545

2 Bed

From$1,835

To$1,260

↓ $575

3 Bed

From$2,425

To$1,720

↓ $705

Madison, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,360–$1,840/mo

Des Moines, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$1,150/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Madison, WI

$6,441

Monthly in Des Moines, IA

$1,059

Difference

Home Values

Madison

Des Moines

$427K

Median Value

$228K

↑ +2.3%

YoY Change

↑ +1.2%

↑ +37.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.4%

$359K - $534K

Price Range

$157K - $344K

Homes in Des Moines are 47% less expensive than Madison

Calculate payment - Madison Calculate payment - Des Moines

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.9K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$154

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.2%

Rate difference

Madison, WI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Wisconsin State Tax

Effective: 5.9%

$8.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.6%

$45.9K

Take-Home Pay

$8,678/month

$104.1K

Des Moines, IA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Iowa State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.7K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.7K

Take-Home Pay

$8,524/month

$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Madison, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Des Moines, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Madison, WI

36/100

2.2% sidewalk tags · 4.9% cycling tags

Des Moines, IA: No data yet

Environment

Madison

Des Moines

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

67.5%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Madison, WI to Des Moines, IA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Des Moines, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Madison, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Madison to Des Moines moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Des Moines, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Madison, WI vs Des Moines, IA

How do the cost estimates for Madison, WI and Des Moines, IA compare?

Des Moines, IA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Madison, WI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Madison, WI, the model estimates $137,293 in Des Moines, IA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Madison, WI and Des Moines, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,835/month in Madison, WI and $1,260/month in Des Moines, IA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Wisconsin and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com