2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Tucson, 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 Tucson?
- Des Moines is 10.7% less expensive than Tucson.

Which city has more affordable housing, Des Moines or Tucson?
- Des Moines housing costs are 38.0% less expensive than Tucson housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Tucson or is Health Care more affordable in Des Moines.
- Health related expenses are 19.9% more in Des Moines.
 Tucson, AZDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock86.6100
 Food & Groceries95.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock102.4100
 Housing93.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$175,700$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock74.7100
 Miscellaneous98.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Tucson    287 Reviews

My wife and I characterize ourselves as a young couple, well educated, with decent positions and we’re Tucson natives. We’ve observed our quality of life from both a  More

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Over 1 years ago

I was reading the reviews for Tucson, and after living there for 6 years, I feel the need to weigh in. There are many pros in Tucson: access to recreational areas,  More

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I spend considerable time in and around Tucson, and I've see it rapidly going "downhill" since 2020. It's definitely not the nice town I remember from when I was a  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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