Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,020 in El Paso, TX. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 8% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$870
$707
+19% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$816
+6% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$993
+10% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,252
+6% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$171,700
+7% in Des Moines, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$58,734
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$39,510
+24% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
34.1 yr
+0.5 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
60.4%
60.2%
+0.2 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
27.5%
+1.5 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.7 min
+4.1 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
319.7
+55% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
1,509.3
+52% 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
50.9°F
64.6°F
+13.7°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
9.7 in
+26.3 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.4
+16% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$30.48
+94% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in El Paso, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Des Moines vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or El Paso?
They're close. Des Moines, IA runs about $1,020 a month and El Paso, TX about $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or El Paso?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).