Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 4% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,014
+54% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,059
+48% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,276
+28% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,369
+3% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$234,500
+32% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$65,327
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$51,340
+4% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
33.0 yr
+3.9 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
44.3%
+23.9 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
38.2%
+5.3 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
18.2 min
21.8 min
+3.6 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
485.2
+83% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
2,726
3,093.9
+13% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
40.1 in
+5.5 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.80/gal
+1% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
19.2
+20% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$22.83
+3% in Columbus, OH

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 / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
2.75%
+1.0 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Columbus?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Columbus?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).