CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Ogden, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
UT
Ogden
100.3
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Des Moines is moderately cheaper than Ogden — 9.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $87,500 in Ogden. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+39.2%
Des Moines
84.7
Ogden
117.9
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Des Moines
93.7
Ogden
96.4
🚗 Transportation+6.5%
Des Moines
97.6
Ogden
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Des Moines
88.3
Ogden
94
Utilities6.9%
Des Moines
84.6
Ogden
78.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ogden, UT
$87,500
$7,500 more needed in Ogden

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 1.0938. 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×

Ogden, UT

Median Home Price
$505,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.1×

Ogden has 39.2% higher housing costs compared to Des Moines.

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

Ogden, UT

Median Household Income
$100,500
Per Capita Income
$57,300
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
87,473
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryTechnologyRetail

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)

Ogden, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.