CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Twin Falls, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
ID
Twin Falls
92.1
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Des Moines and Twin Falls have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.9%
Des Moines
84.7
Twin Falls
73.8
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Des Moines
93.7
Twin Falls
96.2
🚗 Transportation+6.5%
Des Moines
97.6
Twin Falls
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Des Moines
88.3
Twin Falls
94
Utilities17.3%
Des Moines
84.6
Twin Falls
70

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Twin Falls, ID
$80,400
$400 more needed in Twin Falls

Formula: salary × (92.1 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 1.0044. 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×

Twin Falls, ID

Median Home Price
$371,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Des Moines has 12.9% lower housing costs compared to Twin Falls.

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

Twin Falls, ID

Median Household Income
$66,100
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
50,085
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Twin Falls, ID
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.