Athens vs Des Moines
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Athens
Des Moines
The Verdict
Athens is 1.1% less expensive than Des Moines overall. A household earning $75,000 in Athens would need approximately $75,852 in Des Moines to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Athens has the same purchasing power as $75,852 in Des Moines.
Conversely, $75,000 in Des Moines equals $74,157 in Athens.
Living in Athens vs Des Moines
Housing Costs
Athens's housing index of 78 is higher Des Moines's 74, translating to median home prices of $307,000 vs $210,000. The $97,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Athens compared to $1,100/mo in Des Moines, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Athens and 96 in Des Moines. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Athens vs $456/month in Des Moines. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Athens and 93 in Des Moines. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Athens vs $372 in Des Moines. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Athens and 97 in Des Moines. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,700 in Athens and $55,958 in Des Moines. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,432 and $62,874 respectively. Athens residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,323/month to housing in Athens vs $1,306/month in Des Moines. In Athens, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Des Moines, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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