Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 14% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$870
$864
+1% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$866
+0% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,109
+1% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,135
+15% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$185,100
+1% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$55,279
+14% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$49,990
+4% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
36.6 yr
+2.0 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
60.4%
45.4%
+15.0 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
40.2%
+11.2 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.2 min
+2.6 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
1,372.9
+94% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,156.6
5,794.9
+84% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+4.8°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
40.9 in
+4.9 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

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

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.7
+3% in Des Moines, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$24.13
+53% in St. Louis, MO

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 / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.70%
+0.9 pp in MO

Des Moines vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or St. Louis?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or St. Louis?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).