To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Austin, you'd need about $95,000 in Des Moines — a $5,000 saving per year.
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
The salary you'd need in Des Moines to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Austin, using the BEA price ratio of 0.950.
| Salary in Austin | Equivalent in Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $47,500 | −$2,500 |
| $75,000 | $71,200 | −$3,800 |
| $100,000 | $95,000 | −$5,000 |
| $150,000 | $142,500 | −$7,500 |
| $200,000 | $190,000 | −$10,000 |
Moving from Austin, TX to Des Moines, IA means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 5.0%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Austin's overall price level at 97.6 and Des Moines's at 92.7, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $4,969 per month in Austin would spend about $4,704 for the equivalent lifestyle in Des Moines — a swing of $265 every month, or $3,180 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,009 in Austin against $1,824 in Des Moines. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 5.0% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Austin has the same purchasing power as $95,000 in Des Moines. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Des Moines is worth about $105,300 in Austin terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between TX and IA.
Des Moines is 5.0% cheaper than Austin overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2023), Austin has a price level of 97.6 versus 92.7 for Des Moines, where 100 equals the national average.
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Austin, you would need about $95,000 in Des Moines — a difference of $5,000 per year.
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,009 in Austin versus $1,824 in Des Moines. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2023, the most recent metro-level release). Austin maps to the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX MSA; Des Moines maps to the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.
