Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 39% 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.

Cleveland, OH
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$678
$870
+28% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$732
$870
+19% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,099
+22% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,334
+23% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$183,700
+95% in Des Moines, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$63,966
+63% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$51,820
+3% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
34.6 yr
+1.7 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
60.4%
+19.2 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
29.0%
+7.7 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
22.9 min
19.6 min
+3.3 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
707.3
+55% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
3,156.6
+30% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
50.9°F
+1.8°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
36.0 in
+0.3 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

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

Cleveland vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Des Moines?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Des Moines, IA's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Des Moines?
Cleveland 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).