Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 11% higher in Fort Worth, TX. 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
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,310
+99% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,191
+66% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,393
+40% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,721
+29% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$277,300
+57% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$76,602
+13% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$51,440
+4% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
33.4 yr
+3.5 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
56.7%
+11.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
31.7%
+1.2 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
26.9 min
+8.7 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
465.2
+76% in Fort Worth, TX
Property Crime
2,726
2,735.7
+0% in Fort Worth, TX

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
65.7°F
+17.5°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
36.1 in
+1.5 in in Fort Worth, TX

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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$31.89
+44% in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Fort Worth?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Fort Worth?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Worth 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).