Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 2% higher in Columbus, OH. 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.

Columbus, OH
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$870
+14% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$870
+18% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,099
+14% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,334
+3% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$183,700
+22% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$63,966
+2% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$51,820
+1% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.6 yr
+1.6 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
44.3%
60.4%
+16.1 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
29.0%
+9.2 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
19.6 min
+2.2 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
707.3
+46% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,093.9
3,156.6
+2% in Des Moines, IA

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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
36.0 in
+4.1 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

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

Columbus vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Des Moines?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Des Moines?
Columbus 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).