Relocation: Des Moines Metro, IA to Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Des Moines-West Des Moines (Monthly) | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,145 | $1,536 | +$391 | +34.1% |
| Food & Groceries | $366 | $342 | -$24 | -6.6% |
| Transportation | $1,091 | $1,011 | -$80 | -7.3% |
| Healthcare | $377 | $459 | +$82 | +21.8% |
| Other Necessities | $410 | $582 | +$172 | +42.0% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $1,997 | $1,735 | -$262 | -13.1% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Des Moines-West Des Moines Median | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $98,780 | $111,010 | +$12,230 (+12.4%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $78,630 | $101,420 | +$22,790 (+29.0%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $126,460 | $133,290 | +$6,830 (+5.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $101,150 | $98,900 | -$2,250 (-2.2%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $79,290 | $82,620 | +$3,330 (+4.2%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $164,840 | $173,810 | +$8,970 (+5.4%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $154,140 | $169,200 | +$15,060 (+9.8%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $136,570 | $144,290 | +$7,720 (+5.7%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $62,840 | $59,010 | -$3,830 (-6.1%) | View Dossier |
| Solutions ArchitectTechnology | Technology | $109,490 | $127,360 | +$17,870 (+16.3%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $90,730 | $102,860 | +$12,130 (+13.4%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $101,550 | $121,640 | +$20,090 (+19.8%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Relocation FAQs
About $118,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (103.9 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 123.0 in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on.
Quick answers
About $118,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (103.9 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 123.0 in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 18.4% higher in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX than in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.