Side-by-side cost of living comparison for 2026
Cleveland and Des Moines have very similar costs of living, with less than a 3% difference overall.
Index values shown. National average = 100. Lower is cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living:
See exact take-home pay: Ohio salaries · Iowa salaries
Housing is typically the biggest factor in any cost-of-living comparison. Cleveland has a housing index of 59 while Des Moines sits at 74 (national average = 100). The median home in Cleveland costs $100,000 compared to $210,000 in Des Moines, a difference of $110,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $900 in Cleveland versus $1,100 in Des Moines.
Groceries and everyday expenses show a narrower gap: Cleveland scores 99 while Des Moines scores 96. Both cities are close to the national average for grocery costs.
Healthcare costs in Cleveland (96) are lower than Des Moines (97). Both are close to the national average.
Median household income in Cleveland is $32,053 compared to $55,958 in Des Moines. When adjusted for cost of living, purchasing power is similar in both cities.
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