on $100k a year, leaving Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City, every month
Des Moines gives you room Salt Lake City doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,268/mo
21% cheaper than Salt Lake City(vs $1,608/mo)
6%
$112/mo more in state tax than Salt Lake City
vs 4.65% in Salt Lake City
$6,565/mo
$227 more than Salt Lake City
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$300k
49% cheaper than Salt Lake City
vs $584k in Salt Lake City
737k
vs 1.3M in Salt Lake City
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in des moines.
Salt Lake City edges ahead with 168 pleasant days. Winter has bite, though: 55 days drop below 20° vs Salt Lake City's 33.
On par with Salt Lake City for events and shows.
55/100
29% lower than Salt Lake City
vs 78/100 in Salt Lake City
Closest outdoor draw: Rock Creek State Park, 40.2 mi.
78/100
2% lower than Salt Lake City
vs 80/100 in Salt Lake City
17
81% fewer than Salt Lake City
vs 90 nonstops in Salt Lake City
neighbors of des moines on the map of tradeoffs:
