Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $1,470 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 10% higher in Chicago, IL. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,186
+80% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,258
+76% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,406
+41% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,554
+16% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$315,200
+78% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$75,134
+11% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$54,720
+11% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.7 yr
+1.2 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
45.5%
+22.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
43.3%
+10.4 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
18.2 min
33.5 min
+15.3 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
539.8
+104% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
2,726
3,489.9
+28% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
48.2°F
52.7°F
+4.5°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
38.0 in
+3.4 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.24/gal
+10% in Chicago, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
19.9
+25% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$19.71
+11% 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 (IA / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.95%
+1.2 pp in IL

Cedar Rapids vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Chicago?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Chicago?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).