Performance
Score Breakdown
Abbotsford
Des Moines
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Abbotsford is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
41% lower compared to Des Moines.
Housing costs are a major driver: Abbotsford's average rent is
45% higher than Des Moines's.
| Metric | Abbotsford | Des Moines | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,079 | $744 | +45% |
| Groceries | $346 | $600 | -42% |
| Utilities | $156 | $150 | +4% |
| Transport | $68 | $800 | -92% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $500 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,649 | $2,794 | -41% |
| Cost Index | 110 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Des Moines offers 36% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Des Moines delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Abbotsford is estimated at
$31,234 vs $45,000 in Des Moines.
| Metric | Abbotsford | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $34,589 | $54,311 |
| Salary Needed | $31,234 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 31,445 idx | 59,034 idx |
| Household Income | $64,800 | $63,212 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Abbotsford | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 62.00% | 64.00% |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Des Moines is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Abbotsford.
From a growth perspective, Abbotsford is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Des Moines has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Abbotsford | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 153,524 | 214,237 |
| Pop. Growth | 3.30% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 34.4 |
| Unemployment | 7.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $34.1B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Abbotsford
Advantages
Abbotsford was ranked as the third most livable city in Canada in March 2026, largely due to its affordability.
The city's population is experiencing a significant growth rate of 3.3% year-over-year as of 2024.
The housing market showed signs of a rebound in early 2026, with increased sales across all property types compared to the previous year.
Townhome sales and benchmark prices increased in May 2026, indicating a strong segment of the housing market.
The Health Care and Social Assistance and Construction sectors have seen an increase in activity.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Abbotsford is 10% higher than the Canadian national average.
The Abbotsford-Mission CMA experienced a 7.2% unemployment rate in October 2025.
Approximately 4,900 jobs were lost in the Abbotsford-Mission area between August 2024 and August 2025.
Concerns about the quality of care at Abbotsford Regional Hospital were raised in late 2023.
Abbotsford received a low ranking for safety in a March 2026 study of Canadian cities.
Des Moines
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Abbotsford
#2British Columbia, Canada
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,079
Avg Salary
$34,589
Cost Index
110
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
3.30%
Unemployment
7.20%
Livability
73
Business
60
Des Moines
#14Iowa, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$744
Avg Salary
$54,311
Cost Index
92
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
85
Business
80
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