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United States · Americas

Des Moines

Best for: Midwest-US nomads who want capital-city density at genuinely sub-coastal rents.

Mid-tier monthly cost

Full breakdown

$2,200/mo

  • Rent$1,100
  • Groceries$340
  • Dining out$320
  • Transport$80
  • Utilities$160
  • Coworking$200

Climate at a glance

Year heatmap

Humid continental

Best months

  • J
  • F
  • M
  • A
  • M
  • J
  • J
  • A
  • S
  • O
  • N
  • D

Annual range: -6°–24°C

FIRE math at this cost

Run scenarios

Annual spend

$26,400

FIRE target (4% SWR)

$660,000

Coast-FIRE @ 7%/30yr

$86,702

Editorial estimates using the standard 4% Trinity-study rule. Run the FIRE calculator for sequence-of-returns risk, custom withdrawal rates, and country-specific tax assumptions.

Visa for nomads

Low nomad-friendly

Pathway

Extendable tourist

Program

—

Typical max stay

6 months

ESTA Visa Waiver (90 days) for most western passports, no extensions in-country; B-2 visitor visa up to 6 months. No US digital-nomad visa exists. Long-term residence requires H-1B / O-1 / EB green-card paths.

Visa concierges

Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.

Field notes

Iowa capital with an outsized insurance and fintech base (Principal, Wells Fargo regional). East Village and Sherman Hill are the walkable nomad pockets. Same ESTA/B-2 story as the rest of the US — no DNV, 6-month tourist max for non-residents. Roughly half the rent of Chicago for a comparable 1BR. Real four-season climate (continental humid) — cold winters with ice storms, warm humid summers. Quietly one of the cheaper state-capital nomad bases in the Midwest.

Cold winters (Jan -6°C average, regular snow and ice storms), warm humid summers (peak 24°C, frequent afternoon thunderstorms), distinct shoulders. Spring brings tornado risk (April–June). Fall foliage (October) is the postcard window.

Similar bases

Build your stack for Des Moines