Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 4% higher in Huntsville, AL. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$659
$815
+24% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$716
$900
+26% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,080
+8% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,251
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$263,100
+49% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$70,778
+4% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$51,740
+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
36.4 yr
+0.5 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
58.1%
+10.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
46.2%
+13.3 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
18.2 min
19.3 min
+1.1 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
483.2
+83% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,726
2,395.7
+12% 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
62.1°F
+13.9°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
54.3 in
+19.7 in in Huntsville, AL

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
16.4
+3% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$24.06
+9% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.00%
+1.2 pp in AL

Cedar Rapids vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Huntsville?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Huntsville?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).