Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 22% higher in Raleigh, NC. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$870
$1,301
+50% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,323
+52% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,462
+33% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,715
+29% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$377,800
+106% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$82,424
+29% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$51,990
+0% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
34.7 yr
+0.1 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
60.4%
51.2%
+9.2 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
52.9%
+23.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.4 min
+3.8 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
491.5
+31% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
2,838.4
+10% 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
60.6°F
+9.7°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
46.0 in
+10.0 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.1
+7% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$27.56
+75% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC
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 / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.99%
+0.2 pp in NC

Des Moines vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Raleigh?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Raleigh?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).