$100k salary, packing up from Duluth
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
below Duluth's monthly cost
You'd feel the difference in Des Moines. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Duluth.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
19% cheaper than Duluth(vs $1,559/mo)
6%
$154/mo less in state tax than Duluth
vs 7.85% in Duluth
$6,565/mo
$445 more than Duluth
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
19% more expensive than Duluth
vs $252k in Duluth
737k
vs 282k in Duluth
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Duluth only logs 132 pleasant days.
A real upgrade on things to do: 1.5× Duluth's pace.
55/100
25% lower than Duluth
vs 73/100 in Duluth
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
152% higher than Duluth
vs 31/100 in Duluth
17
325% more than Duluth
vs 4 nonstops in Duluth
same energy as des moines, different zip code:
