CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs Des Moines, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Birmingham and Des Moines have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+17.8%
Birmingham
71.9
Des Moines
84.7
🛒 Groceries−2.8%
Birmingham
96.4
Des Moines
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Birmingham
101.5
Des Moines
97.6
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Birmingham
91.9
Des Moines
88.3
⚡ Utilities+1.0%
Birmingham
83.8
Des Moines
84.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Birmingham to see what you'd need to earn in Des Moines to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Des Moines, IA
$80,100
$100 more needed in Des Moines

Formula: salary × (91.7 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0011. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Des Moines, IA

Median Home Price
$285,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
84.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Des Moines has 17.8% higher housing costs compared to Birmingham.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

Des Moines, IA

Median Household Income
$82,700
Per Capita Income
$47,100
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
214,237
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Des Moines, IA
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Birmingham vs other cities

Birmingham, AL
vs
Huntsville, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 93.1
Birmingham, AL
vs
Mobile, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 88.1
Birmingham, AL
vs
Montgomery, AL
Index: 91.6Index: 89.7
Birmingham, AL
vs
Yonkers, NY
Index: 91.6Index: 112.6
Birmingham, AL
vs
Rochester, NY
Index: 91.6Index: 97

Des Moines vs other cities

Des Moines, IA
vs
Cedar Rapids, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89
Des Moines, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89.1
Des Moines, IA
vs
Iowa City, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 91.5
Des Moines, IA
vs
Fontana, CA
Index: 91.7Index: 106.4
Des Moines, IA
vs
Huntsville, AL
Index: 91.7Index: 93.1

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.