Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA — about 31% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Cedar Rapids, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$659
+34% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$716
+32% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$997
+30% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,335
+32% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$177,100
+53% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$67,859
+31% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$49,360
+18% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
63.7%
68.2%
+4.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
32.9%
+4.8 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
18.2 min
+0.8 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
264.5
+74% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
2,726
+3% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
48.2°F
+10.8°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
34.6 in
+16.7 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.85/gal
+26% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
15.9
+44% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$22.16
+28% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / IA)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.80%
+3.8 pp in IA

Anchorage vs Cedar Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Cedar Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $29,000 in Cedar Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Cedar Rapids?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Cedar Rapids under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).