Cost of living comparison

compared to

Des Moines vs. Bologna Cost of Living Summary

Des Moines is 3.1% cheaper than Bologna.

Restaurants
pay 7.3% less in Des Moines
Groceries
pay 0.3% more in Des Moines
Transportation
pay 22.3% less in Des Moines
Housing
pay 0.5% more in Des Moines
Childcare
pay 5.4% more in Des Moines
Entertainment and Sports
pay 28.9% more in Des Moines
Clothing
pay 15.0% less in Des Moines

The cost of entertainment and sports, childcare, housing, and groceries in Des Moines are more expensive than in Bologna. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Des Moines.

Des Moines vs. Bologna Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Des Moines instead of Bologna, you would:

pay 7.3% less for restaurants

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $22.39
€20.00
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$13.44
€12.00
$12.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.63
€3.24
$3.00
 

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pay 0.3% more for groceries

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Bread
1 loaf
$3.09
€2.76
$2.95
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $10.33
€9.23
$4.77
 
Milk (1 gallon) $5.19
€4.63
$3.38
 

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pay 22.3% less for transportation

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.06
€7.19
$3.71
 
Monthly public transit pass $43.67
€38.99
$58.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,317.50
€32,427.79
$35,052.00
 

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pay 0.5% more for housing

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$31.17
€27.83
$71.15
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,136.62
€1,014.88
$1,161.80
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $872.70
€779.24
$864.75
 

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pay 5.4% more for childcare

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $771.78
€689.12
$1,183.50
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $16,312.31
€14,565.21
$11,812.00
 

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pay 28.9% more for entertainment and sports

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.72
€6.00
$5.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.23
€1.99
$6.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.96
€6.22
$8.03
 

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pay 15.0% less for clothing

 
Bologna
Des Moines
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$92.07
€82.21
$60.68
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$45.99
€41.06
$43.33
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$120.58
€107.66
$103.00
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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