Moving to Iowa from Denmark
What to Expect
Considering a move from Denmark to Iowa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Denmark to Iowa, you would find that Iowa is 1.3% cheaper than Denmark overall. A DKK490,200 salary in Denmark would need to be roughly $54,423 in Iowa to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Denmark and Iowa.
What does your salary buy?
DKK490,200 → $54,423
To maintain the same standard of living in Iowa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 32.3% less
Groceries
pay 7.9% less
Transportation
pay 50.8% less
Housing
pay 12.6% more
Childcare
pay 2.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Denmark to Iowa.
people moved from Denmark to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
115.33,223
Denmark
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iowa compared to Denmark.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Denmark performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Denmark performs better than Iowa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Denmark leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Denmark performs better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Copenhagen | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/29°F (3°/-2°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 58°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/53°F (19°/12°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Copenhagen | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 41°/30°F (5.0°/-1.0°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 50°/36°F (10.0°/2.0°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.0°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 66°/52°F (19.0°/11.0°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.0°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 54°/45°F (12.0°/7.0°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 45°/37°F (7.0°/3.0°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 39°/30°F (4.0°/-1.0°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) |
Data:
Danish Meteorological Institute,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Denmark and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Denmark passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Denmark
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa than Denmark?
On average Iowa is about 27% less expensive than Denmark, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Iowa?
Budget about $13,606 for 3 months in Iowa (based on a DKK490,200 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iowa?
From major Iowa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Denmark and Iowa are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Denmark?
Denmark performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Denmark?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 52°F in Copenhagen. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Copenhagen gets 20.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iowa?
The official language in Iowa is English. In Denmark, the official language is Danish.
