Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Dover

Delaware

$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 Dover, DE. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 14% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$659
$993
+51% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,047
+46% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,185
+19% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,634
+22% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$248,500
+40% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$58,336
+14% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$46,690
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.1 yr
+1.8 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
47.0%
+21.2 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
27.1%
+5.8 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
24.0 min
+5.8 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
1,025.3
+288% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
2,726
6,159.1
+126% in Dover, DE

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
56.9°F
+8.7°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
46.0 in
+11.4 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Dover, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
19.3
+21% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$29.73
+34% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
6.60%
+2.8 pp in DE

Cedar Rapids vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Dover?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Dover?
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 Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Dover?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).