Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 15% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$870
$997
+15% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,166
+34% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,461
+33% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,993
+49% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$495,700
+170% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$74,925
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$55,240
+7% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
33.0 yr
+1.6 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
60.4%
46.8%
+13.6 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
50.9%
+21.9 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.6 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
878.8
+24% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
3,156.6
5,257.3
+67% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+1.9°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
16.1 in
+19.9 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.0
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$10.26
+35% in Des Moines, IA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.50%
+0.7 pp in UT

Des Moines vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Salt Lake City?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Salt Lake City?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).