Minneapolis, MN vs Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Des Moines, IA has a modeled overall cost index 16.7% lower than Minneapolis, MN.

Minneapolis, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,700 / 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 Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,149/month in Des Moines, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,216 in Des Moines, IA

Regional cost estimates: Minneapolis, MN uses Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-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

↓ 16.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,149

Savings

Annual Impact

$13.8K

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.

Minneapolis, MN

Population:430K

Cost Index:

108.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$308K

Des Moines, IA

Population:214K

Cost Index:

90.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$228K

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Minneapolis, MN

The North Star State

430K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 430K 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: Minneapolis, MN 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	Minneapolis, MN	Des Moines, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,550/mo	$1,889/mo	↓ $661less	25.9%
Other	$1,612/mo	$1,460/mo	↓ $152less	9.4%
Transportation	$1,254/mo	$1,129/mo	↓ $124less	9.9%
Groceries	$935/mo	$826/mo	↓ $109less	11.7%
Healthcare	$687/mo	$619/mo	↓ $67.56less	9.8%
All Utilities	$462/mo	$427/mo	↓ $34.76less	7.5%

Housing

↓ 25.9%

Minneapolis, MN

$2,550

Des Moines, IA

$1,889

Difference

$661

less

Other

↓ 9.4%

Minneapolis, MN

$1,612

Des Moines, IA

$1,460

Difference

$152

less

Transportation

↓ 9.9%

Minneapolis, MN

$1,254

Des Moines, IA

$1,129

Difference

$124

less

Groceries

↓ 11.7%

Minneapolis, MN

$935

Des Moines, IA

$826

Difference

$109

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.8%

Minneapolis, MN

$687

Des Moines, IA

$619

Difference

$67.56

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.5%

Minneapolis, MN

$462

Des Moines, IA

$427

Difference

$34.76

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,240

To$1,020

↓ $220

1 Bed

From$1,400

To$1,060

↓ $340

2 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,260

↓ $440

3 Bed

From$2,250

To$1,720

↓ $530

Minneapolis, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$2,100/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 Minneapolis, MN

$6,351

Monthly in Des Moines, IA

$1,149

Difference

Home Values

Minneapolis

Des Moines

$308K

Median Value

$228K

↑ +1%

YoY Change

↑ +1.2%

↑ +8.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.4%

$152K - $469K

Price Range

$157K - $344K

Homes in Des Moines are 26% less expensive than Minneapolis

Calculate payment - Minneapolis Calculate payment - Des Moines

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $272

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$22.70

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.2%

Rate difference

Minneapolis, MN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Minnesota State Tax

Effective: 7.0%

$10.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.6%

$47.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,546/month

$102.6K

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

Minneapolis, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

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

Minneapolis, MN

43/100

0% sidewalk tags · 4.3% cycling tags

Des Moines, IA: No data yet

Environment

Minneapolis

Des Moines

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

66.4%

Good Air Days

67.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis, MN. 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 Minneapolis 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: Minneapolis, MN vs Des Moines, IA

How do the cost estimates for Minneapolis, MN and Des Moines, IA compare?

Des Moines, IA has a modeled overall cost index 16.7% lower than Minneapolis, MN. 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 Minneapolis, MN, the model estimates $136,216 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 Minneapolis, MN and Des Moines, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,700/month in Minneapolis, MN 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 Minnesota and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com