Austin vs Des Moines Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Austin, you'd need about $93,500 in Des Moines — a $6,500 saving per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Austin → Des Moines
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 0.935.
| Salary in Austin | Equivalent in Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,700 | −$3,300 |
| $75,000 | $70,100 | −$4,900 |
| $100,000 | $93,500 | −$6,500 |
| $150,000 | $140,200 | −$9,800 |
| $200,000 | $187,000 | −$13,000 |
Austin vs Des Moines: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Austin, TX to Des Moines, IA means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 6.5%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Austin's overall price level at 98.1 and Des Moines's at 91.7, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $4,998 per month in Austin would spend about $4,649 for the equivalent lifestyle in Des Moines — a swing of $349 every month, or $4,188 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,028 in Austin against $1,786 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 6.5% 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 $93,500 in Des Moines. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Des Moines is worth about $107,000 in Austin terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.
Don't forget state taxes
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between TX and IA.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines more expensive than Austin?
Des Moines is 6.5% cheaper than Austin overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Austin has a price level of 98.1 versus 91.7 for Des Moines, where 100 equals the national average.
What salary do I need in Des Moines to match $100,000 in Austin?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Austin, you would need about $93,500 in Des Moines — a difference of $6,500 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Austin or Des Moines?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,028 in Austin versus $1,786 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 (2024, released February 2026). Austin maps to the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, 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.