CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Spartanburg, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableSC
Spartanburg
91.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.7%
Des Moines
84.7
Spartanburg
68
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Des Moines
93.7
Spartanburg
96.3
🚗 Transportation+5.7%
Des Moines
97.6
Spartanburg
103.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.8%
Des Moines
88.3
Spartanburg
93.4
Utilities+4.4%
Des Moines
84.6
Spartanburg
88.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spartanburg, SC
$79,500
$500 less needed in Spartanburg

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×

Spartanburg, SC

Median Home Price
$272,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
68
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Des Moines has 19.7% lower housing costs compared to Spartanburg.

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

Spartanburg, SC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
38,732
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAutomotiveEducationRetail

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)

Spartanburg, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.