on $100k a year, leaving Albany
changea dispatch from
des moines
IA
41.59°N
93.62°W
Des Moines is the Iowa State Fair every August (think butter cows, deep-fried everything, and the political circus of every presidential cycle), insurance industry stability, and a downtown that's grown into a genuinely good food and brewery scene. The East Village neighborhood is the cool kid pocket. The whole city is bikeable. Friendly, affordable, and chronically underestimated.
in our guides
the verdict
under Albany, every month
Des Moines gives you room Albany doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
23% cheaper than Albany(vs $1,643/mo)
6%
$12/mo more in state tax than Albany
vs 5.85% in Albany
$6,565/mo
$362 more than Albany
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
17% cheaper than Albany
vs $361k in Albany
737k
vs 905k in Albany
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Albany only manages 147 of those.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 1.8× more on the calendar than Albany.
55/100
24% lower than Albany
vs 72/100 in Albany
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
14% lower than Albany
vs 91/100 in Albany
17
11% fewer than Albany
vs 19 nonstops in Albany
neighbors of des moines on the map of tradeoffs:
