Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 16% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,468
+123% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,688
+136% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$997
$2,148
+115% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$2,489
+86% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$879,500
+397% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$80,366
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$55,850
+13% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
36.9 yr
about equal
Homeownership
68.2%
36.3%
+31.9 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
37.8%
+4.9 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
31.1 min
+12.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
730.3
+176% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
2,726
1,501.4
+45% 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
67.0°F
+18.8°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
21.2 in
+13.4 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.53/gal
+44% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
34.7
+118% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$20.33
+8% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
13.30%
+9.5 pp in CA

Cedar Rapids vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Los Angeles?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Los Angeles?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).