Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Burlington, IA-IL

Cost of living in Des Moines County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,759/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 38,597 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $817 30%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $433 16%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $149 5%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Des Moines County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$735
per month
1 bedroom
$817
per month
2 bedroom
$1,072
per month
3 bedroom
$1,324
per month
4 bedroom
$1,421
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Des Moines County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$60,662
per year
Individual earnings
$36,545
per year
Per capita
$36,246
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Des Moines County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$137,000
Annual property tax
$2,097

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Des Moines County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Des Moines County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.0%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Des Moines County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Des Moines County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
18.6 min
Drive alone
81.9%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
4.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Des Moines County

What it costs to live in Des Moines County each month.

Single person
$2,759
per month
  • Rent $817
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $433
  • State tax $149
Couple
$4,098
per month
  • Rent $1,072
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $663
  • State tax $263
Family
$6,474
per month
  • Rent $1,324
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $663
  • State tax $263

Frequently asked questions about Des Moines County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Des Moines County?

In Des Moines County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $817 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,072 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,324 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Des Moines County?

In Des Moines County, IA, the average household income is $60,662 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $36,545 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Des Moines County?

The estimated cost of living in Des Moines County, IA is approximately $2,759 per month for a single person, $4,098 for a couple, $6,474 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Des Moines County?

The combined sales tax rate in Des Moines County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Des Moines County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Des Moines County, IA would need approximately $2,759 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $60,662 per year ($5,055 per month). Des Moines County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Des Moines County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Des Moines County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Des Moines County?

The average home value in Des Moines County, IA is $137,000, with average annual property taxes of $2,097, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Des Moines County compare to other areas?

You can compare Des Moines County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Des Moines County is in the Burlington, IA-IL metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Des Moines County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources