City Comparison

Beaumont vs Des Moines

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Des Moines

Iowa
89
Below Average
$210,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$55,958
Median Income

The Verdict

12.4%

Living in Beaumont costs 12.4% less than Des Moines. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Beaumont, you would need $85,577 in Des Moines.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
74
Des Moines
Groceries
96
Beaumont
96
Des Moines
Utilities
102
Beaumont
93
Des Moines
Transportation
93
Beaumont
100
Des Moines
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
97
Des Moines

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $85,577 in Des Moines.

Conversely, $75,000 in Des Moines equals $65,730 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Des Moines

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Des Moines's 74, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $210,000. The $44,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,100/mo in Des Moines, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 96 in Des Moines. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont 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 102 in Beaumont and 93 in Des Moines. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $372 in Des Moines. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont 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 $57,000 in Beaumont and $55,958 in Des Moines. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $62,874 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,306/month in Des Moines. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 12.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 89.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,577 in Des Moines, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Des Moines's is 74 with median homes at $210,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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