What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cedar Rapids has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Cedar Rapids has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cedar Rapids ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Cedar Rapids ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Cedar Rapids, check out:
Cedar Rapids Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cedar Rapids. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cedar Rapids is 98.
The Groceries index in Cedar Rapids is 94.
The Health index in Cedar Rapids is 80.
The Housing index in Cedar Rapids is 99.
The Transportation index in Cedar Rapids is 97.
The Utilities index in Cedar Rapids is 97.
| Living Expense | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 80 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 94 | 100 |
Cedar Rapids Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Cedar Rapids Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cedar Rapids, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Cedar Rapids is $204,111.
The Median Rent in Cedar Rapids is $967.
The Median Income in Cedar Rapids is $70,424.
The Home Value To Income in Cedar Rapids is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cedar Rapids is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $204,111 | $231,584 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $967 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $70,424 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.9x | 3.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.16x | 0.21x |
Cedar Rapids, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Cedar Rapids Services costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.35 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.73 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.8 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cedar Rapids Groceries costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.61 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.37 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.85 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.81 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.32 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.97 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.83 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cedar Rapids Health costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.97 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $105.87 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cedar Rapids Transportation costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cedar Rapids Utilities costs vs. Iowa
| Item | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $205.48 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.56 | $192.25 |
Cedar Rapids SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cedar Rapids
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cedar Rapids. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Marion, IA has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Cedar Rapids.
Central, LA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Cedar Rapids.
Coralville, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Cedar Rapids.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cedar Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, IA | 41,896 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Coralville, IA | 23,234 | 106 | 1.2x |
| North Liberty, IA | 21,125 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Hiawatha, IA | 7,206 | 93 | 1.0x |
