Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Chicago compared to Des Moines? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Chicago | Metric | Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | Cost of Living Index | 89 | -21.9% |
| $315,000 | Median Home Price | $240,000 | -23.8% |
| $2,288 | Median Monthly Rent | $850 | -62.8% |
| $70,100 | Median Household Income | $67,200 | -4.1% |
| 2.1% | Property Tax Rate | 1.5% | -28.6% |
| 4.6% | Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | -39.1% |
| 31 min | Average Commute | 20 min | -35.5% |
| 36.7 | Median Age | 33.8 | -7.9% |
| 9,560,000 | Metro Population | 700,000 | -92.7% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Chicago costs $2,236/month (PITI) compared to $1,584/month in Des Moines — a difference of $652/month or $7,824/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.5x in Chicago versus 3.6x in Des Moines, suggesting Des Moines is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 6.0 years to save a down payment in Chicago compared to 4.8 years in Des Moines.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Chicago | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $70,100 | $67,200 |
| State Income Tax | $3,329 | $2,554 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,871 | $6,233 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,362 | $5,140 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,615/yr | $3,600/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $15,562 (22.2%) | $13,927 (20.7%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $54,538 | $53,273 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $15,562 in Chicago (22.2% effective) versus $13,927 in Des Moines (20.7% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $54,538 in Chicago and $53,273 in Des Moines. Property taxes add $6,615/year on the median Chicago home versus $3,600/year in Des Moines.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $70,100 in Chicago (COL 114) and relocate to Des Moines (COL 89), you would need $54,727 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $15,373 and still maintain your lifestyle in Des Moines.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Chicago is 31 minutes versus 20 minutes in Des Moines, a difference of 11 minutes each way. Des Moines's lower unemployment rate of 2.8% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Chicago skews slightly older with a median age of 36.7 vs 33.8 in Des Moines.
Chicago is 21.9% more expensive than Des Moines overall. Chicago has a cost of living index of 114 compared to 89 for Des Moines (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $315,000 in Chicago vs $240,000 in Des Moines.
The median home price in Chicago is $315,000, which is $75,000 more than Des Moines's median of $240,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,288/month in Chicago vs $850/month in Des Moines, a difference of $1,438/month or $17,256/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $70,100 salary in Chicago is equivalent to $54,727 in Des Moines. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Chicago's COL index of 114 vs Des Moines's 89. Conversely, $67,200 in Des Moines equals $86,076 in Chicago.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $15,562 (22.2% effective rate) in Chicago vs $13,927 (20.7% effective rate) in Des Moines. Property taxes on the median home are $6,615/year in Chicago (2.1% rate) vs $3,600/year in Des Moines (1.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Illinois and 6.0% in Iowa.
Chicago median household income: $70,100/yr. Des Moines median household income: $67,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,288 in Chicago vs $850 in Des Moines. Annualized that is $27,456 vs $10,200.
Des Moines offers a lower cost of living (index 89 vs 114), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Chicago typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Chicago and Des Moines numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Chicago vs Des Moines cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .