Mankato, MN vs Des Moines, IA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Des Moines, IA and Mankato, MN are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Mankato works out to about $75,600 in Des Moines, before taxes.
- Housing is 6.1% higher in Des Moines, goods 1.8% lower and other services 0.8% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,280 a month in Des Moines and $1,236 in Mankato, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $293,000 in Des Moines and $306,000 in Mankato.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.8%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Mankato and Des Moines
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 91.7 |
| Goods | 95.4 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.9 | 84.7 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 84.6 |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.9 |
| Category | Mankato | Des Moines | Des Moines vs Mankato |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 91.7 | +0.8% |
| Goods | 95.4 | 93.7 | −1.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.9 | 84.7 | +6.1% |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 84.6 | −2.8% |
| Other services | 92.2 | 92.9 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,236 | $1,280 | +3.6% |
| Typical home value | $306,000 | $293,000 | −4.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Mankato | $75,000 | $75,600 | +0.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Mankato and Des Moines has narrowed since 2008: 10.0 points then, 0.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 88.7 | 97.2 |
| 2010 | 92.7 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 86.3 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 92.0 | 94.6 |
| 2016 | 88.6 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 94.8 | 95.5 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 95.6 |
| 2020 | 91.2 | 93.8 |
| 2021 | 88.3 | 93.4 |
| 2022 | 88.9 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 87.6 | 92.8 |
| 2024 | 91.0 | 91.7 |
Goods
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.9 | 96.4 |
| 2009 | 85.5 | 96.4 |
| 2010 | 93.6 | 96.3 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 94.3 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 92.8 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 94.6 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 95.7 | 97.9 |
| 2016 | 94.1 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 95.9 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 96.3 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 94.6 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 97.0 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 95.4 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.2 | 82.1 |
| 2009 | 80.6 | 95.3 |
| 2010 | 88.5 | 85.6 |
| 2011 | 60.3 | 90.1 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 91.7 |
| 2013 | 103.9 | 91.3 |
| 2014 | 68.8 | 93.2 |
| 2015 | 93.1 | 90.6 |
| 2016 | 78.9 | 88.9 |
| 2017 | 85.0 | 89.6 |
| 2018 | 92.0 | 91.9 |
| 2019 | 88.8 | 88.9 |
| 2020 | 69.3 | 81.8 |
| 2021 | 59.9 | 85.0 |
| 2022 | 72.1 | 87.6 |
| 2023 | 64.1 | 86.0 |
| 2024 | 79.9 | 84.7 |
Utilities
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.5 | 90.8 |
| 2009 | 78.1 | 93.4 |
| 2010 | 84.8 | 90.7 |
| 2011 | 78.8 | 90.7 |
| 2012 | 79.3 | 90.4 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 90.2 |
| 2014 | 84.8 | 83.7 |
| 2015 | 84.3 | 82.7 |
| 2016 | 86.2 | 81.1 |
| 2017 | 85.8 | 88.7 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 98.6 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 99.5 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 100.1 |
| 2021 | 98.3 | 101.2 |
| 2022 | 96.8 | 100.7 |
| 2023 | 90.0 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 87.1 | 84.6 |
Other services
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 98.5 |
| 2010 | 94.2 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 91.4 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 93.8 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 92.7 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 93.5 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 90.1 | 94.2 |
| 2016 | 89.0 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 88.3 | 94.1 |
| 2018 | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 95.6 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 95.0 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 90.5 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 92.2 | 92.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,280 in Des Moines vs $1,236 in Mankato
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $924 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $948 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $941 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $935 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $945 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $957 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $961 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $950 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $966 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $989 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $991 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $971 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $982 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $1,009 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $999 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $990 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $996 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $1,021 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $1,029 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $1,013 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $1,023 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $1,036 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $1,048 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $1,040 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $1,056 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $1,074 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $1,096 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $1,096 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $1,119 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $1,157 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $1,177 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,041 | $1,161 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,065 | $1,178 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,045 | $1,202 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,062 | $1,208 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,105 | $1,197 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,116 | $1,218 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,116 | $1,238 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,107 | $1,241 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,149 | $1,219 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,158 | $1,235 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,163 | $1,247 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,181 | $1,253 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,256 | $1,236 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,241 | $1,256 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,220 | $1,275 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,236 | $1,280 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $293,000 in Des Moines vs $306,000 in Mankato
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Mankato, MN
- Des Moines, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Mankato, MN | Des Moines, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $165K | $166K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $167K | $169K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $169K | $172K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $171K | $175K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $175K | $179K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $177K | $182K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $180K | $184K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $182K | $187K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $184K | $190K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $186K | $193K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $190K | $195K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $192K | $197K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $194K | $200K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $197K | $203K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $199K | $205K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $201K | $206K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $205K | $209K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $208K | $211K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $210K | $212K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $212K | $214K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $215K | $216K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $217K | $217K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $219K | $221K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $225K | $227K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $229K | $232K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $238K | $240K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $245K | $245K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $248K | $249K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $257K | $258K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $269K | $267K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $269K | $268K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $269K | $270K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $271K | $270K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $274K | $274K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $276K | $277K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $277K | $278K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $279K | $281K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $281K | $284K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $282K | $285K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $287K | $288K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $291K | $290K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $294K | $290K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $298K | $291K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $303K | $293K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $306K | $294K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $306K | $292K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $306K | $293K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.