Living Cost Compare
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Bellevue, NE versus $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,343 in Bellevue, NE and $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA — about 22% higher in Bellevue, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bellevue, NE
Cedar Rapids, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,106
$659
+40% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$1,008
$716
+29% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,190
$997
+16% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,660
$1,335
+20% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$230,800
$177,100
+23% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$87,343
$67,859
+22% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$49,360
+1% in Bellevue, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.9 yr
+0.8 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
65.5%
68.2%
+2.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
32.9%
+0.5 pp in Bellevue, NE
Avg Commute
20.8 min
18.2 min
+2.6 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
100.8
264.5
+162% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Property Crime
1,149.4
2,726
+137% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.1°F
48.2°F
+2.9°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.6 in
34.6 in
+4.0 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.3
15.9
+20% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.10
$22.16
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / IA)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
3.80%
+0.8 pp in NE

Bellevue vs Cedar Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bellevue or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bellevue than in Cedar Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Bellevue versus $29,000 in Cedar Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Bellevue or Cedar Rapids?
Bellevue is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).