Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 19% higher in Des Moines, IA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$791
$870
+10% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$817
$870
+6% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,099
+7% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,334
+9% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$183,700
+15% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$63,966
+24% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$51,820
+3% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.6 yr
+1.6 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
38.9%
60.4%
+21.5 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
29.0%
+12.3 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
19.6 min
+3.5 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
707.3
+17% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
3,156.6
+19% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
50.9°F
+3.4°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
36.0 in
+5.9 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
14.1
+28% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$15.72
+31% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / IA)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
3.80%
+1.0 pp in IA

Cincinnati vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Des Moines?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Cincinnati, OH's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Des Moines?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).