Quick answer
Des Moines costs $80/month less overall ($1,690 vs $1,770/mo). But Pittsburgh's 3.07% state income tax erases some of that gap — on an $80K salary, the tax difference is $1,384/year.
City Comparison · 2026
Des Moines vs Pittsburgh
Side-by-side on rent, home prices, taxes, walkability, jobs, and climate — with a straight verdict for each type of mover.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Des Moines vs Pittsburgh at a Glance
| Metric | Des Moines | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Monthly Rent | $1,150 ✓ | $1,580 |
| 2BR Monthly Rent | $1,350 ✓ | $1,580 |
| Median Home Price | $245K | $225K ✓ |
| Avg Utilities/mo | $170 | $145 ✓ |
| Avg Groceries/mo | $370 | $345 ✓ |
| Monthly Cost (1BR) | $1,690 ✓ | $1,770 |
| Walk Score | 45/100 | 63/100 ✓ |
| Transit Score | 29/100 | 52/100 ✓ |
| State Income Tax | 4.82% | 3.07% ✓ |
Monthly cost = 1BR rent + utilities + groceries for one person. ✓ marks the lower/better value.
Cost of Living: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Rent gap: Des Moines's 1BR averages $1,150/month vs $1,280 in Pittsburgh — a $130/month difference, or $1,560/year. That's close enough that neighborhood choice within each city matters more than the city-level average.
State tax: Pittsburgh charges 3.07% state income tax vs 4.82% in Des Moines. On an $80K salary that's a $1,384/year difference. On $120K, the gap grows to $5,760 vs $3,684 — important context if you're choosing between tech job offers.
Home buying: Median homes in Pittsburgh are $225K vs $245K in Des Moines. At a 20% down payment, that's a $4,000 difference in upfront cash — significant at early-career savings rates.
Utilities: Des Moines utilities run $25 more per month than Pittsburgh. Factor this into your all-in monthly budget.
Walkability, Transit & Daily Life
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines is partially walkable in denser neighborhoods but car-dependent in most areas.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh's walkability means you can genuinely live without a car in the right neighborhoods.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
Climate
Des Moines
Cold winters with wind chills reaching -20°F; warm summers; defined seasons.
Pittsburgh
Four seasons; cold cloudy winters (one of the least sunny US cities), warm summers, beautiful fall
Job Market
Des Moines top industries
Pittsburgh top industries
Who Should Pick Which City
Move to Des Moines if…
- →You're a Insurance and financial services professionals
- →You're a Families seeking excellent schools and safety
- →You're a Anyone valuing Midwestern hospitality and community
- →You're a Young professionals interested in startup culture
Move to Pittsburgh if…
- →You're a tech / robotics workers
- →You're a healthcare professionals
- →You're a academics
- →You're a value-seekers from coastal cities
- →You're buying a home and want more for your money
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines or Pittsburgh cheaper to live in?
Des Moines is cheaper overall. Monthly costs (1BR rent + utilities + groceries) run $1,690 in Des Moines vs $1,770 in Pittsburgh — a $80/month difference.
Which city is more walkable — Des Moines or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is more walkable with a Walk Score of 63/100 vs 45/100. Des Moines is more car-dependent.
Des Moines vs Pittsburgh: which has lower state income tax?
Pittsburgh has lower state income tax (3.07%). On an $80K salary, that saves $1,384/year vs Des Moines (4.82%).
Is Des Moines or Pittsburgh better for buying a home?
Pittsburgh has lower median home prices at $225K vs $245K in Des Moines — a $20,000 difference on the median home.