Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 2% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$870
$1,183
+36% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,195
+37% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,374
+25% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,447
+8% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$328,100
+79% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$62,671
+2% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$51,460
+1% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
34.5 yr
+0.1 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
60.4%
43.5%
+16.9 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
44.1%
+15.1 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.1 min
+2.5 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
349
+51% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
3,240.2
+3% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+8.0°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
43.6 in
+7.6 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.6
+25% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$23.66
+51% in Richmond, VA

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 Richmond, VA
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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.75%
+2.0 pp in VA

Des Moines vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Richmond?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Richmond?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).