Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 20% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$870
$992
+14% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,192
+37% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,555
+41% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,761
+32% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$345,600
+88% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$80,269
+25% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$59,320
+14% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
33.0 yr
+1.6 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
60.4%
48.0%
+12.4 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
54.5%
+25.5 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.5 min
+2.9 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
1,168.5
+65% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,156.6
5,183.1
+64% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+3.5°F in Des Moines, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
32.8 in
+3.2 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.9
+20% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$14.95
+5% in Des Moines, IA

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 (IA / MN)
6%
6.875%
+0.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
9.85%
+6.0 pp in MN

Des Moines vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Minneapolis?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Minneapolis?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).