Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 22% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$870
+48% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$870
+45% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,099
+35% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,334
+14% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$183,700
+56% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$63,966
+22% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$51,820
+1% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.6 yr
+0.6 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
46.3%
60.4%
+14.1 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
29.0%
+29.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
19.6 min
+7.2 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
707.3
+17% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,156.6
+11% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
50.9°F
+11.7°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
36.0 in
+13.7 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Des Moines, IA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.1
+11% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$15.72
+53% in Atlanta, GA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Atlanta, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / IA)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.80%
+1.4 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Des Moines?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Des Moines?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).