on $100k a year, leaving Des Moines
changea dispatch from
tucson
AZ
32.25°N
110.91°W
Tucson is the first U.S. city named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the Sonoran hot dogs alone justify the trip. The saguaros stand around like skinny green sentries, the mountains ring the city in every direction, and the sunsets do that thing where the whole sky turns watermelon. The University of Arizona keeps the energy young. The monsoons in July are genuinely thrilling, and the dry desert nights keep the patios full long after dark.
in our guides
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than Des Moines
A near-tie on cost. What separates Tucson is the life around the numbers.
a quick ledger.
$1,444/mo
14% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)
2.5%
$292/mo less in state tax than Des Moines
vs 6% in Des Moines
$6,681/mo
$116 more than Des Moines
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$352k
18% more expensive than Des Moines
vs $300k in Des Moines
1.1M
vs 737k in Des Moines
field notes, weather & such.
202
pleasant days a year, in tucson.
Des Moines barely cracks 151 pleasant ones. Heat is the cost: 94 days top 95° vs Des Moines's 7.
On par with Des Moines for events and shows.
66/100
20% higher than Des Moines
vs 55/100 in Des Moines
Closest outdoor draw: Saguaro National Park, 16.6 mi.
67/100
14% lower than Des Moines
vs 78/100 in Des Moines
16
6% fewer than Des Moines
vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines
if tucson appeals, also worth a look:
compare tucson with:
