Denver vs Des Moines Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Denver, you'd need about $86,700 in Des Moines — a $13,300 saving per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Denver → Des Moines
The salary you'd need in Des Moines to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Denver, using the BEA price ratio of 0.867.
| Salary in Denver | Equivalent in Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,300 | −$6,700 |
| $75,000 | $65,000 | −$10,000 |
| $100,000 | $86,700 | −$13,300 |
| $150,000 | $130,000 | −$20,000 |
| $200,000 | $173,300 | −$26,700 |
Denver vs Des Moines: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Denver, CO to Des Moines, IA means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 13.3%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Denver's overall price level at 105.8 and Des Moines's at 91.7, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,415 per month in Denver would spend about $4,649 for the equivalent lifestyle in Des Moines — a swing of $766 every month, or $9,192 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,319 in Denver 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 13.3% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Denver has the same purchasing power as $86,700 in Des Moines. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Des Moines is worth about $115,400 in Denver 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 CO and IA.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines more expensive than Denver?
Des Moines is 13.3% cheaper than Denver overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Denver has a price level of 105.8 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 Denver?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Denver, you would need about $86,700 in Des Moines — a difference of $13,300 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Denver or Des Moines?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,319 in Denver 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). Denver maps to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 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.