Cost of Living in Des Moines
Des Moines runs genuinely more affordable than several nearby King County markets, though with a high combined sales tax rate and a real, disclosed price-citation spread.
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Learn moreHousing costs run genuinely more affordable, with real, disclosed variance
A February 2026 citation put the median sale price at $530,000 (down 4.9% year-over-year), while a separate February 2026 citation ran higher at $559,500, and Zillow's typical home value ran higher still at $583,430 -- all disclosed rather than reconciled to one number.
A genuinely high combined sales tax rate
Des Moines' combined 2026 sales tax rate is 10.4% (Washington's 6.5% state base plus a 3.9% city/local component) -- identical to the rate documented in this build's companion burien-wa.js record, among the higher rates in this build's Washington Tier B markets.
Property tax follows the King County countywide rate
Des Moines' effective property tax rate runs at approximately 0.83%, the same King County countywide figure documented in this project's companion bellevue-wa.js, shoreline-wa.js, and burien-wa.js records -- the highest countywide rate of Washington's 39 counties.
No state income tax, but a real capital gains excise tax on high earners
Washington has no state individual income tax, but its real, current capital gains excise tax applies to high earners: 7% on long-term gains above an annual threshold, rising to 9.9% above $1 million in gains as of the 2025 expansion.
Key takeaways
- Housing runs genuinely more affordable, with a real, disclosed price spread ($530,000-$583,430 depending on source).
- Des Moines' combined 10.4% sales tax rate matches Burien's and runs on the higher end of this build's Washington Tier B markets.
- Property tax (approximately 0.83% effective) follows King County's countywide rate.
- No state income tax, though a real capital gains excise tax reaches high earners statewide.
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