Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 35% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$659
$630
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
1 Bedroom
$716
$841
+17% in Hattiesburg, MS
2 Bedroom
$997
$980
+2% in Cedar Rapids, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,195
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$153,600
+13% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$44,140
+35% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$37,750
+24% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
28.7 yr
+8.2 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
36.5%
+31.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
35.0%
+2.1 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
18.2 min
17.0 min
+1.2 min in Cedar Rapids, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
221.5
+16% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Property Crime
2,726
3,475.7
+28% in Hattiesburg, MS

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
66.1°F
+17.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
59.2 in
+24.6 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.9
+7% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$29.04
+31% in Hattiesburg, MS

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 Hattiesburg, MS
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 / MS)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.00%
+0.2 pp in MS

Cedar Rapids vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Hattiesburg?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Hattiesburg?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).