Cost of Living: Des Moines, IA vs Mason City, IA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,184/mo in Des Moines, IA versus $4,184/mo in Mason City, IA. In the model, rent is about 15.36% of gross in Des Moines, IA versus 12.74% in Mason City, IA, so Mason City, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Des Moines, IA and Mason City, IA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Des Moines, IA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Mason City, IA
- Lower home prices: Mason City, IA
- Higher median household income: Des Moines, IA
Cost of Living Index
Des Moines, IA: 87.6 (U.S. = 100) · Mason City, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Des Moines, IA has a lower cost-of-living index than Mason City, IA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Des Moines, IA: $1,002/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Mason City, IA: $831/mo
Median rent in Des Moines, IA is $171/mo higher than in Mason City, IA.
Median Home Price
Des Moines, IA: $183,700 · Mason City, IA: $130,000
Median home price in Des Moines, IA is $53,700 higher than in Mason City, IA.
Median Household Income
Des Moines, IA: $63,966 · Mason City, IA: $62,369
Des Moines, IA has a higher median household income than Mason City, IA by $1,597.
Des Moines, IA overview · Mason City, IA overview · Popular comparisons