Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 26% higher in Denver, 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
Denver, CO

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,497
+127% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,583
+121% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,958
+96% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$2,269
+70% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$586,700
+231% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$91,681
+35% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$62,320
+26% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.2 yr
+1.7 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
49.1%
+19.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
55.6%
+22.7 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
18.2 min
25.4 min
+7.2 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
999.3
+278% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
2,726
4,781.1
+75% in Denver, 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
50.2°F
+2.0°F in Denver, CO
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
15.6 in
+19.0 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.16/gal
+8% in Denver, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
17.1
+8% in Denver, 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 Denver, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Denver, CO
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Denver, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Denver, 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 Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Denver?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Denver?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Denver?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Denver 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).