$100k a year, no longer in Minneapolis
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
less monthly outlay than Minneapolis
Des Moines is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
24% cheaper than Minneapolis(vs $1,679/mo)
6%
$154/mo less in state tax than Minneapolis
vs 7.85% in Minneapolis
$6,565/mo
$565 more than Minneapolis
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
25% cheaper than Minneapolis
vs $398k in Minneapolis
737k
vs 3.7M in Minneapolis
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Minneapolis only manages 147 of those.
71% fewer events than Minneapolis. The pace eases up.
55/100
28% lower than Minneapolis
vs 76/100 in Minneapolis
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
16% lower than Minneapolis
vs 93/100 in Minneapolis
17
87% fewer than Minneapolis
vs 130 nonstops in Minneapolis
neighbors of des moines on the map of tradeoffs:
