Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Laramie

Wyoming

$890/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 $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 23% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio
$659
$667
+1% in Laramie, WY
1 Bedroom
$716
$728
+2% in Laramie, WY
2 Bedroom
$997
$883
+11% in Cedar Rapids, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,423
+7% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$302,200
+71% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$52,414
+23% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
26.9 yr
+10.0 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
44.1%
+24.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
55.8%
+22.9 pp in Laramie, WY
Avg Commute
18.2 min
13.5 min
+4.7 min in Cedar Rapids, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
129.6
+51% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Property Crime
2,726
1,175.9
+57% 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
41.0°F
+7.2°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
10.9 in
+23.7 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.2
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$18.28
+18% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / WY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Laramie?
Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Cedar Rapids, IA's $900, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Laramie?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Laramie?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax 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).