City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Oklahoma City, OK
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Des Moines, IA are 1.4% higher than in Oklahoma City, OK. Someone earning $100,000 in Oklahoma City, OK would need about $101,400 in Des Moines, IA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA versus $1,017 in Oklahoma City, OK. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Des Moines, IA and 16% in Oklahoma City, OK.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $806 a year higher in Oklahoma City, OK than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.8% moving from Des Moines, IA to Oklahoma City, OK ($107,301 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.6% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
- Oklahoma City, OK: price level 90.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Des Moines, IA | Oklahoma City, OK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 90.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,590 in Oklahoma City | $101,430 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $1,017/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,226 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,955 (OK) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $47,230 |
| 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 Oklahoma City, OK HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Oklahoma City, OK.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 73.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 95.5 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 90.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Oklahoma City, OK
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$806/yr.
73 Strong offer
Oklahoma City, OK → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$806/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Oklahoma City, OK is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Oklahoma City, OK at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Oklahoma City, OK | Real change, Des Moines → Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $61,722 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $74,678 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $89,508 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $106,437 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $125,776 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Oklahoma City, OK | Oklahoma City pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $48,780 | $49,478 (−19.7%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $122,390 | $124,140 (−1.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $77,280 | $78,385 (−1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $82,920 | $84,106 (+7.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.