Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $1,380 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 2% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs California.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs FAX (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Cedar Rapids vs Fresno — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Fresno?
- Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Fresno?
- 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 Fresno.
- Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Fresno?
- Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).