Des Moines-West Des Moines Naples-Marco Island

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Unfavorable
Cost Index: 91.7 → 103.2
Rent Delta: +$668/mo

Cons of Moving

  • - 11% higher cost of living
  • - $668/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $3K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Des Moines-West Des Moines to Naples-Marco Island shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 91.7 to 103.2 (100 = US average), so a Des Moines-West Des Moines salary needs to be multiplied by 1.13 to hold the same purchasing power in Naples-Marco Island. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,318/month in Des Moines-West Des Moines to $1,986/month in Naples-Marco Island - a higher monthly bill of $668, or $8,016/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $69,930 in Des Moines-West Des Moines versus $67,260 in Naples-Marco Island - a raw gap of $2,670 lower. The Naples-Marco Island labor market has 162,820 tracked jobs against 394,120 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Des Moines-West Des Moines and Naples-Marco Island are 238 and 210 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.8:1 at origin versus 17.8:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $8,306/year in Des Moines-West Des Moines versus $10,505/year in Naples-Marco Island. Our composite verdict - Unfavorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Naples-Marco Island
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 91.7
RPP 103.2
Des Moines-West Des Moines
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,318/mo
$1,986/mo
Des Moines-West Des Moines
💼 Wages
$69,930
$67,260
Des Moines-West Des Moines
🔒 Crime
238 per 100K
210 per 100K
Naples-Marco Island
🎓 Schools
14.8:1
17.8:1
Des Moines-West Des Moines
👶 Childcare
$8,306/yr
$10,505/yr
Des Moines-West Des Moines
🌿 Environment
729 violations
2676 violations
Des Moines-West Des Moines

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines to see what you'd need to earn in Naples-Marco Island to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Naples-Marco Island
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Naples-Marco Island more expensive than Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Naples-Marco Island has an RPP of 103.2 compared to Des Moines-West Des Moines's 91.7 (100 = national average). Naples-Marco Island is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Naples-Marco Island is $1,986/mo vs $1,318/mo in Des Moines-West Des Moines.
What are salaries like in Naples-Marco Island compared to Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The median salary in Naples-Marco Island is $67,260 compared to $69,930 in Des Moines-West Des Moines. That's a -$2,670 difference.
Is Naples-Marco Island safer than Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The violent crime rate near Naples-Marco Island is 210 per 100K vs 238 per 100K near Des Moines-West Des Moines (state-level data). Naples-Marco Island has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Naples-Marco Island to match my Des Moines-West Des Moines salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Des Moines-West Des Moines salary by 1.13. For example, a $75,000 salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines would need to be $84,405 in Naples-Marco Island. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Unfavorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Unfavorable" means the origin clearly wins on most dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

Explore PlainRelocate

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)