Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,050 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 10% higher in Huntsville, AL. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$870
$815
+6% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$900
+3% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,080
+2% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,251
+6% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$263,100
+43% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$70,778
+11% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$51,740
+0% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
36.4 yr
+1.8 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
60.4%
58.1%
+2.3 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
46.2%
+17.2 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.3 min
+0.3 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
483.2
+32% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
2,395.7
+24% 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
62.1°F
+11.2°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
54.3 in
+18.3 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
16.4
+3% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$24.06
+9% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.00%
+1.2 pp in AL

Des Moines vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Huntsville?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Huntsville?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).