Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 2% 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.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Houston.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs Houston METRO (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Des Moines vs Houston — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Houston?
- Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Houston?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $46,000 in Houston.
- Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Houston?
- Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Houston 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).