Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 33% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$659
$973
+48% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,042
+46% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,296
+30% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,433
+7% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$217,200
+23% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$45,300
+33% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$59,940
+21% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
33.4 yr
+3.5 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
25.7%
+42.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
18.3%
+14.6 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.8 min
+4.6 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
527.5
+99% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,726
2,949.2
+8% in Hartford, CT

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
51.2°F
+3.0°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
43.6 in
+9.0 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
24.3
+53% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$23.33
+5% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
6.99%
+3.2 pp in CT

Cedar Rapids vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Hartford?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Hartford?
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 Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Hartford?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).