salaryRent is higher than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.0 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.8 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $75,560 a year. That is $36 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Washington cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Washington. It is number 66 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Des Moines?
Share of households by yearly income. 37.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Des Moines
| Size | Des Moines | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,708 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,716 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,940 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,386 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,795 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Des Moines overall?
Everyday prices in Washington overall are 7% above the U.S. average (index 107.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Des Moines, so the Washington figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Des Moines
Life in Des Moines
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Des Moines?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,253 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $597,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $59,700 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Des Moines, WA?
Renting in Des Moines costs a median of about $1,889 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.
How much do I need to make to live in Des Moines?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $75,560 a year, or $36 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Des Moines cheap or expensive?
Des Moines is rated OK: rent takes 22.7% of the typical household income of $99,743. It ranks 66th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Des Moines?
The median homeowner in Des Moines pays $5,640 a year in property taxes, about 0.94% of the median home value.
Is Des Moines more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Washington are 7% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Des Moines?
The median home value in Des Moines is $597,000, about 6.0 times the typical yearly household income.
32,823 people live in Des Moines. Numbers are typical (middle) values.