City Comparison · 2026
Des Moines vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Des Moines = $189k in Los Angeles
Metric
Des Moines
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓0.93
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,100/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,380/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
IA
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$74,936
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓25.06%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$61,736
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Des Moines IA | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,968 $3,997/mo · 20.05% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $74,936 $6,245/mo · 25.06% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $107,578 $8,965/mo · 28.28% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Des Moines has a cost-of-living index of 0.93 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Des Moines is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Des Moines is $1,100/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Des Moines?
$100k in Des Moines = $189k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 89.2%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Des Moines or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,936 in IA (Des Moines) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $61,736 in Des Moines vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideDes Moines vs New York City cost of livingDes Moines vs Los Angeles cost of livingDes Moines vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in Des MoinesCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in Des MoinesRegistered Nurse salary in Des MoinesWhere does $100k rank nationally?