Urbandale, IA vs West Des Moines, IA

Urbandale, IA and West Des Moines, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Urbandale scores 94 while West Des Moines scores 92 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Urbandale is $1,176/month compared to $1,194/month in West Des Moines — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Urbandale has cheaper rent, West Des Moines actually has lower median home values ($286,300 vs $318,800).

Median household income in Urbandale is $113,086 compared to $84,925 in West Des Moines (+33.2%). While Urbandale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Urbandale spend roughly 12.5% of their income on rent, less than the 16.9% in West Des Moines.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 50.9°F). West Des Moines receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 36.6" in Urbandale.