Home › IA › Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA Livability score 72 · cost-of-living index 90.0 (US = 100)
How Cedar Rapids compares Where Cedar Rapids falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 90 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 90 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $244k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $244k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $148 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $148 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.9% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.9% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.64% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.64% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 300 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 300 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 13.9 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 13.9 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 12° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 12° Map of Cedar Rapids Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 90.0 metro-area #30 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.6 metro-area #103 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.12 metro-area #28 of 200 Median household income $75,477 metro-area #78 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $43,889 metro-area #54 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.3 years metro-area #120 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.8% metro-area #107 of 200 Foreign-born residents 4.5% metro-area #171 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 74.8% metro-area #11 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 3.63% metro-area #18 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% metro-area #106 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $244,344 metro-area #38 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.2× metro-area #6 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.6% metro-area #39 of 200 Price per square foot $148 metro-area #62 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,234 metro-area #16 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 843 Median days on market 9 metro-area #43 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 11.2% state #140 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.94% state #50 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.80% Capital gains tax 3.80% state #70 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.64% metro-area #163 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,067 metro-area #125 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.7 years metro-area #46 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 state #32 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 4.4% metro-area #10 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 56 metro-area #177 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 state #99 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $400 state #193 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.00% of value (~$280/yr) state #140 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 20 min metro-area #8 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.8% metro-area #131 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 20.5% metro-area #12 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 13.9¢/kWh state #10 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $125 state #10 of 200 Gasoline $3.10/gal state #50 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $73 state #130 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $82 state #50 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $93 state #197 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,700 state #96 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,200 state #3 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 77.3 — Relatively Low metro-area #17 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 44 metro-area #76 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 900 metro-area #66 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 97% state #1 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,600 metro-area #181 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 12 metro-area #54 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 12°F metro-area #187 of 200 Annual precipitation 35.0" metro-area #62 of 200 Annual snowfall 35.0" metro-area #147 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 55% metro-area #150 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 5b Frost window 05-10 → 10-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 300 state #28 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,800 state #52 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Cedar Rapids Major public and private employers in the Cedar Rapids, IA area.
Employer Sector Jobs Rockwell Collins Aerospace/Defense Careers → Archer Daniels Midland Manufacturing Careers → General Mills Manufacturing Careers → Quaker Oats Manufacturing Careers → St. Luke's Hospital Healthcare Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Cedar Rapids Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $166,900 Marketing Managers $132,720 Pharmacists $131,300 Physician Assistants $129,120 Lawyers $126,770 Financial Managers $122,630 Human Resources Managers $109,300 Construction Managers $108,770 Software Developers $102,850 Civil Engineers $94,170 Data Scientists $88,480 Physical Therapists $87,440 Mechanical Engineers $83,940 General & Operations Managers $81,290 Dental Hygienists $81,060 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $78,040 Accountants & Auditors $74,300 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $68,760 Web Developers $67,230 Registered Nurses $67,150 Elementary School Teachers $62,570 Electricians $61,930 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,810 Carpenters $50,670 Graphic Designers $48,860 Real Estate Sales Agents $48,240 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,350 Medical Assistants $43,520
Find a job in Cedar Rapids Cities in the Cedar Rapids area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
