2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Scottsdale, AZ vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or is it cheaper to live in Scottsdale?
- Des Moines is 23.4% less expensive than Scottsdale.

Which city has more affordable housing, Des Moines or Scottsdale?
- Des Moines housing costs are 75.0% less expensive than Scottsdale housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Scottsdale or is Health Care more affordable in Des Moines.
- Health related expenses are 10.7% more in Des Moines.
 Scottsdale, AZDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock86.6100
 Food & Groceries103.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock102.4100
 Housing230.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$175,700$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock74.7100
 Miscellaneous105.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Scottsdale    84 Reviews

It's been a long time since I visited Scottsdale after visiting a few times a decade ago. It used to be more of an area that deserved it's punchlines for being stuck up  More

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Over 1 years ago

My son went to ASU in '99 which is how we ended up here from Northern Illinois. Over the years we came out for vacations and bought a second home until we finally made  More

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I lived in San Jose for 30 years...in the late '50s. I walked thru cherry orchards to school. After college classes, I drove 20 minutes to the beach. San Francisco was  More

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Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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