Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 29% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. 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
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$870
$1,496
+72% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,357
+56% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,559
+42% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,857
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$366,300
+99% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$90,685
+42% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$49,430
+5% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
37.4 yr
+2.8 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
60.4%
64.9%
+4.5 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
40.4%
+11.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.2 min
+3.6 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
96.9
+86% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
1,664.9
+47% in Des Moines, IA

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
59.9°F
+9.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
44.3 in
+8.3 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

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

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Virginia Beach?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Virginia Beach?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach 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).