City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 1.3% higher than in Des Moines, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Des Moines, IA would need about $101,300 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA and $1,079 in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,148 a year in IA and $3,382 in KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.8% moving from Des Moines, IA to Lexington, KY ($107,301 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,296 in Lexington | $98,721 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$234/yr.
65 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$234/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Lexington, KY | Real change, Des Moines → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $61,722 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $74,678 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $89,508 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $106,437 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $125,776 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,460 | $60,674 (−1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $123,510 | $121,930 (−3.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $77,780 | $76,785 (−3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $79,040 | $78,029 (−0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.