same $100k income, fresh start from Milwaukee
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
cheaper each month than Milwaukee
Not a fortune, but real money. Des Moines runs cheaper than Milwaukee month over month.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
16% cheaper than Milwaukee(vs $1,504/mo)
6%
$23/mo less in state tax than Milwaukee
vs 6.27% in Milwaukee
$6,565/mo
$258 more than Milwaukee
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
24% cheaper than Milwaukee
vs $394k in Milwaukee
737k
vs 1.6M in Milwaukee
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Milwaukee only manages 149 of those.
Noticeably quieter than Milwaukee. About 34% fewer events on a typical month.
55/100
10% lower than Milwaukee
vs 61/100 in Milwaukee
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
20% lower than Milwaukee
vs 98/100 in Milwaukee
17
43% fewer than Milwaukee
vs 30 nonstops in Milwaukee
if des moines appeals, also worth a look:
