Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Des Moines compared to Cedar Rapids? 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.
| Des Moines | Metric | Cedar Rapids | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Cost of Living Index | 86 | -3.4% |
| $240,000 | Median Home Price | $185,000 | -22.9% |
| $850 | Median Monthly Rent | $700 | -17.6% |
| $67,200 | Median Household Income | $62,400 | -7.1% |
| 1.5% | Property Tax Rate | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2.8% | Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 18 min | -10.0% |
| 33.8 | Median Age | 36.4 | +7.7% |
| 700,000 | Metro Population | 270,000 | -61.4% |
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 Des Moines costs $1,584/month (PITI) compared to $1,221/month in Cedar Rapids — a difference of $363/month or $4,356/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.6x in Des Moines versus 3.0x in Cedar Rapids, suggesting Cedar Rapids is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 4.8 years to save a down payment in Des Moines compared to 4.0 years in Cedar Rapids.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Des Moines | Cedar Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $67,200 | $62,400 |
| State Income Tax | $2,554 | $2,371 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,233 | $5,359 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,140 | $4,774 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,600/yr | $2,775/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $13,927 (20.7%) | $12,504 (20.0%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $53,273 | $49,896 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $13,927 in Des Moines (20.7% effective) versus $12,504 in Cedar Rapids (20.0% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $53,273 in Des Moines and $49,896 in Cedar Rapids. Property taxes add $3,600/year on the median Des Moines home versus $2,775/year in Cedar Rapids.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $67,200 in Des Moines (COL 89) and relocate to Cedar Rapids (COL 86), you would need $64,935 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $2,265 and still maintain your lifestyle in Cedar Rapids.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Des Moines is 20 minutes versus 18 minutes in Cedar Rapids, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Both cities have similar unemployment rates around 2.8%. Cedar Rapids skews slightly older with a median age of 36.4 vs 33.8 in Des Moines.
Des Moines is 3.4% more expensive than Cedar Rapids overall. Des Moines has a cost of living index of 89 compared to 86 for Cedar Rapids (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $240,000 in Des Moines vs $185,000 in Cedar Rapids.
The median home price in Des Moines is $240,000, which is $55,000 more than Cedar Rapids's median of $185,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $850/month in Des Moines vs $700/month in Cedar Rapids, a difference of $150/month or $1,800/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $67,200 salary in Des Moines is equivalent to $64,935 in Cedar Rapids. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Des Moines's COL index of 89 vs Cedar Rapids's 86. Conversely, $62,400 in Cedar Rapids equals $64,577 in Des Moines.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $13,927 (20.7% effective rate) in Des Moines vs $12,504 (20.0% effective rate) in Cedar Rapids. Property taxes on the median home are $3,600/year in Des Moines (1.5% rate) vs $2,775/year in Cedar Rapids (1.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.0% in Iowa and 6.0% in Iowa.
Des Moines median household income: $67,200/yr. Cedar Rapids median household income: $62,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $850 in Des Moines vs $700 in Cedar Rapids. Annualized that is $10,200 vs $8,400.
Cedar Rapids offers a lower cost of living (index 86 vs 89), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Des Moines typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Des Moines and Cedar Rapids 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 Des Moines vs Cedar Rapids 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 .