$100k salary, packing up from Austin
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
the monthly premium over Austin
A small premium for Des Moines. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
20% cheaper than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)
6%
$500/mo more in state tax than Austin
vs 0% in Austin
$6,565/mo
$185 less than Austin
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
31% cheaper than Austin
vs $433k in Austin
737k
vs 2.5M in Austin
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Austin actually gets more: 170 pleasant days a year. Bring a real coat. 55 days stay under 20°, well past Austin's 1.
Lighter on events: Austin packs 2.6× more into a month.
55/100
2% lower than Austin
vs 56/100 in Austin
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
21% lower than Austin
vs 99/100 in Austin
17
60% fewer than Austin
vs 42 nonstops in Austin
in the same ballpark as des moines:
