Los Angeles, CA vs Des Moines, IA
Cost of living comparison · 2023 Census ACS data
Quick Summary
Housing costs separate Des Moines and Los Angeles more than any other line item — $184,000 versus $880,000 for a typical home, a 79% spread. State income-tax burden also tilts toward Des Moines — a top rate of 5.7% versus 13.3% — which compounds at higher incomes.
Median Home Value
$879,500
$183,700 ✓
Zillow Home Value
$941,985
$204,843
Median Gross Rent
$1,879/mo
$1,054/mo ✓
Owner Occupied %
36.3%
60.5%
Price-to-Rent Ratio
39.0x
14.5x
Median Household Income
$80,366 ✓
$63,966
Per Capita Income
$46,270
$36,459
Unemployment Rate
7.9%
5.8% ✓
Poverty Rate
16.6%
14.9%
Avg Commute (min)
34.1 min
21.2 min
Drove Alone %
61.4%
72.3%
Public Transit %
6.7%
1.1%
Work From Home %
17.3%
11.4%
State Income Tax
13.3%
5.7%
Total Sales Tax
8.7%
6.9% ✓
Property Tax Rate
0.7%
1.6%
Bachelor's Degree %
24.5%
19.9%
Median Age
36.9
34.6
Avg High Temp
70.4°F
60.5°F
Annual Precipitation
13.4"
36.5"
Annual Snowfall
—
36.5"
Los Angeles, CA 1 wins
- ✓Median Household Income
Des Moines, IA 4 wins
- ✓Median Home Value
- ✓Median Gross Rent
- ✓Total Sales Tax
- ✓Unemployment Rate
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