Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 18% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$659
$998
+51% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,305
+82% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,504
+51% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,881
+41% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$420,700
+138% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$83,198
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$52,710
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.6 yr
+1.3 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
61.3%
+6.9 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
41.9%
+9.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.8 min
+4.6 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
722.1
+173% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
2,726
3,488.7
+28% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+0.8°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
16.5 in
+18.1 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.13/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
17.1
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$15.05
+32% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.40%
+0.6 pp in CO

Cedar Rapids vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Colorado Springs?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Colorado Springs?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).