CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Des Moines — 8.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $72,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−49.5%
Des Moines
84.7
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Des Moines
93.7
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Des Moines
97.6
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Des Moines
88.3
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−14.7%
Des Moines
84.6
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Des Moines to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$72,900
$7,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9117. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Home Price
$285,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
84.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Des Moines has 49.5% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Household Income
$82,700
Per Capita Income
$47,100
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
214,237
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturing

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Des Moines, IA
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Des Moines vs other cities

Des Moines, IA
vs
Cedar Rapids, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89
Des Moines, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89.1
Des Moines, IA
vs
Iowa City, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 91.5
Des Moines, IA
vs
Fontana, CA
Index: 91.7Index: 106.4
Des Moines, IA
vs
Huntsville, AL
Index: 91.7Index: 93.1

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.