Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 3% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$659
$818
+24% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$716
$827
+16% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$997
$957
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,278
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$298,600
+69% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$69,630
+3% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$46,800
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
33.5 yr
+3.4 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
64.1%
+4.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
31.0%
+1.9 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
18.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
365.3
+38% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
2,726
1,235.5
+55% 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
44.2°F
+4.0°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
10.4 in
+24.2 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.4
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$11.33
+49% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / ID)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.30%
+1.5 pp in ID

Cedar Rapids vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Idaho Falls?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Idaho Falls?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).