Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 6% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Both cities are in Iowa, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$659
$870
+32% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$716
$870
+22% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,099
+10% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,334
+0% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$183,700
+4% in Des Moines, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$63,966
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$51,820
+5% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.6 yr
+2.3 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
60.4%
+7.8 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
29.0%
+3.9 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
19.6 min
+1.4 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
707.3
+167% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
2,726
3,156.6
+16% in Des Moines, IA

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
50.9°F
+2.7°F in Des Moines, IA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
36.0 in
+1.4 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$22.16
about equal

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 / IA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.80%
about equal

Cedar Rapids vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Des Moines, IA's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?
Neither — both are in Iowa, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).