Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/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 $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 2% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$870
$1,052
+21% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,084
+25% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,327
+21% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,545
+16% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$219,700
+20% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$62,917
+2% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$47,010
+9% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
34.6 yr
about equal
Homeownership
60.4%
52.4%
+8.0 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
28.7%
+0.3 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
24.6 min
+5.0 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
605.7
+14% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
4,665.7
+48% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+17.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
34.9 in
+1.2 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.4
+16% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$30.48
+94% in San Antonio, TX

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 San Antonio, TX
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 / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Des Moines vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or San Antonio?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or San Antonio?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).