City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 18.7% higher than in Des Moines, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Des Moines, IA would need about $118,700 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,109 in Des Moines, IA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Des Moines, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,383 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.5% moving from Des Moines, IA to Washington, DC ($107,301 → $121,785), while prices change by +18.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.4% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $118,738 in Washington | $84,219 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,383/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Des Moines, IA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$2,383/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Washington, DC | Real change, Des Moines → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $70,623 | −4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $85,447 | −4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $102,415 | −4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $121,785 | −4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $143,913 | −4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $79,470 | $66,929 (+8.6%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $154,930 | $130,480 (+3.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $102,140 | $86,021 (+8.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $102,710 | $86,501 (+10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.