Des Moines, IA has 15 licensed assisted living communities listed on ElderCareCosts. The median estimated cost is $5,436/mo. That's roughly in line with the Iowa state median. Des Moines assisted living runs large: 53% of licensed providers have 100 beds or more, and the typical one has 104.
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Median monthly price, Des Moines
$5,436/mo
Estimated range $5,242 – $5,651
● Des Moines $5,436 ○ National median $6,230
2025 figures
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Home care in Des Moines runs about $42 an hour. Here is what common schedules cost a month:
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Medicare generally does not cover long-term custodial care. Families usually combine private pay, long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, or a Medicaid waiver where they qualify. See paying for care and the state Medicaid guides.
Nearby cities: Pleasant Hill · Norwalk · Altoona · West Des Moines · Urbandale
Here is what different monthly budgets cover in Des Moines.
Des Moines is a market of larger communities. 53% have 100 beds or more, and the typical one has 104 beds, against 50 across Iowa.
Des Moines, in Polk County, has about 212,421 residents. About 27,045 of them (13%) are 65 or older. The median household income is $65,932.
Source: US Census BureauAAA serving Polk County (Des Moines) and seven surrounding counties. Contact from Iowa HHS SFY 2025 AAA Plan Update Synopsis.
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Statewide help for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.
VA Medical Center in Des Moines.
Can help pay for care if your parent qualifies.
1 VA Community Living Center or State Veterans Home nearby.
VA Aid & Attendance overview →National helplines, including the Eldercare Locator and 211, are listed on paying for care.
Veterans & surviving spouses: VA Aid & Attendance can help wartime veterans who qualify. How Aid & Attendance works →
Des Moines's median assisted living cost is about 1% higher than the Iowa state median.
Tell us what you need and your budget, and we will email you licensed options right away.
Reading up first? Assisted Living across Iowa → · Assisted Living cost across Iowa → · Adult Day Care vs Assisted Living →
Touring this week? Print our checklist: what to ask on a tour, what to notice, and the license paperwork to request. Or email it to yourself to have it on your phone.