Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,050 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 13% higher in Des Moines, IA. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$802
$870
+8% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$870
+15% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,099
+6% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,334
+0% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$183,700
+25% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$63,966
+15% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$51,820
+12% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
34.6 yr
+5.9 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
47.3%
60.4%
+13.1 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
29.0%
+17.1 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
19.6 min
+2.2 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
707.3
+8% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
3,156.6
+3% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
50.9°F
+14.0°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
36.0 in
+9.4 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.9
+2% in Des Moines, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$22.16
+24% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC
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 (SC / IA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
3.80%
+2.2 pp in SC

Columbia vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Des Moines?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Des Moines?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).