2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Salina, KS vs West Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in West Des Moines or is it cheaper to live in Salina?
- West Des Moines is 14.2% more expensive than Salina.

Which city has more affordable housing, West Des Moines or Salina?
- West Des Moines housing costs are 89.6% more expensive than Salina housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Salina or is Health Care more affordable in West Des Moines.
- Health related expenses are 2.4% less in West Des Moines.
 Salina, KSWest Des Moines, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock86.6100
 Food & Groceries94.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock102.4100
 Housing48.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$282,300$338,100
 Utilities108  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock71.3100
 Miscellaneous104.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Salina    6 Reviews

I moved here 3 years ago, because I wanted to raise my children in a small town. We lived in a big city with a lot of crime and the some kids were always in trouble. I  More

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Salina in some parts is so wild that there are animals, tutles and skunks I saw at night while dring a beer outside the market near Tony's Pizza factory ownd by the  More

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Over 10 years ago

I was there for almost a whole year. I stayed at the Salina Rescue Mission for free however nothing is really "free". Housing- Salina downtown purports to have cheap  More

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Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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