Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 15% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$870
$795
+9% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$891
+2% in Tucson, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,146
+4% in Tucson, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,520
+14% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$242,200
+32% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$54,546
+15% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$47,760
+8% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
34.6 yr
about equal
Homeownership
60.4%
51.7%
+8.7 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
30.2%
+1.2 pp in Tucson, AZ
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.2 min
+2.6 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
645.8
+9% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
3,460
+10% in Tucson, AZ

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
70.2°F
+19.3°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
11.6 in
+24.4 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.09/gal
+29% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.2
+8% in Tucson, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$22.44
+43% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
2.50%
+1.3 pp in IA

Des Moines vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Tucson?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Tucson?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).