Kansas City vs Des Moines
Kansas City, MO · Des Moines, IA
Des Moines is 3% cheaper than Kansas City overall.
Home Price
Kansas: $270,000
Des: $240,000
Monthly Rent
Kansas: $1,146/mo
Des: $850/mo
COL Index
Kansas: 92
Des: 89
Median Income
Kansas: $67,800
Des: $67,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $96,739 in Des Moines — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Des Moines cost 11% more (-$30,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Des Moines saves you $296/month — $3,552 per year. Median rent: $1,146/mo in Kansas City vs $850/mo in Des Moines.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Kansas City owners pay roughly $2,700/year in property taxes vs $3,600/year in Des Moines. That's a $900 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,800 in Kansas City and $67,200 in Des Moines. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 23 minutes in Kansas City vs 20 minutes in Des Moines. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Kansas City to Des Moines, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Kansas City | Equivalent in Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,370 | -$1,630 |
| $75,000 | $72,554 | -$2,446 |
| $100,000 | $96,739 | -$3,261 |
| $150,000 | $145,109 | -$4,891 |
| $200,000 | $193,478 | -$6,522 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Kansas City Calculators
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Kansas City vs Des Moines: Common Questions
Is Kansas City or Des Moines cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Des Moines is cheaper overall. Kansas City has a COL index of 92 while Des Moines scores 89 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Kansas City and Des Moines?
The median home price in Kansas City is $270,000 vs $240,000 in Des Moines — a difference of $30,000 (11%).
What salary do I need in Des Moines to match my Kansas City income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Kansas City is equivalent to $96,739 in Des Moines in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Kansas City has a lower property tax rate (1% vs 1.5%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,700/year vs $3,600/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.