Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 13% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$659
$707
+7% in El Paso, TX
1 Bedroom
$716
$816
+14% in El Paso, TX
2 Bedroom
$997
$993
+0% in Cedar Rapids, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,252
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$171,700
+3% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$58,734
+13% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$39,510
+20% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.1 yr
+2.8 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
60.2%
+8.0 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
27.5%
+5.4 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
23.7 min
+5.5 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
319.7
+21% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
2,726
1,509.3
+45% in Cedar Rapids, 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
64.6°F
+16.4°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
9.7 in
+24.9 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.58/gal
+7% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$31.89
+44% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or El Paso?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or El Paso?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).