CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Toledo, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
OH
Toledo
91.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Des Moines and Toledo have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.5%
Des Moines
84.7
Toledo
67.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Des Moines
93.7
Toledo
93.6
🚗 Transportation+6.5%
Des Moines
97.6
Toledo
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Des Moines
88.3
Toledo
94
Utilities+13.8%
Des Moines
84.6
Toledo
96.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Toledo, OH
$79,800
$200 less needed in Toledo

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9978. 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×

Toledo, OH

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
67.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Des Moines has 20.5% lower housing costs compared to Toledo.

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

Toledo, OH

Median Household Income
$63,100
Per Capita Income
$36,000
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
270,871
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Toledo, OH
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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.