CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Killeen, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Killeen
91.1
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Killeen is slightly cheaper than Des Moines — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $79,500 in Killeen. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.0%
Des Moines
84.7
Killeen
77.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Des Moines
93.7
Killeen
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Des Moines
97.6
Killeen
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Des Moines
88.3
Killeen
91.4
Utilities4.0%
Des Moines
84.6
Killeen
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Killeen, TX
$79,500
$500 less needed in Killeen

Formula: salary × (91.1 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9935. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Des Moines, IA

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

Killeen, TX

Median Home Price
$247,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Des Moines has 8.0% lower housing costs compared to Killeen.

Income & Job Market

Des Moines, IA

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

Killeen, TX

Median Household Income
$71,000
Per Capita Income
$40,500
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
154,823
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

82% of income left after rent (median)

Killeen, TX
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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.