Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Miami leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Miami
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($170,700 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $499/mo less ($995 vs $1,494)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,520 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$7,520
$62,378 vs $54,858/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$263k less
$170,700 vs $433,900
Miami
Violent Crime
33% lower
473.3 vs 703.0 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $54,858 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Miami wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Des Moines to Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $433,900 median home), income ($62,378 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Miami, FL are about 1,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.