Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 5% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$659
$786
+19% in Louisville, KY
1 Bedroom
$716
$877
+22% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,096
+10% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,299
+3% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$221,500
+25% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$64,731
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$48,370
+2% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
37.7 yr
+0.8 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
68.2%
60.6%
+7.6 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
33.4%
+0.5 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.7 min
+4.5 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
763.4
+189% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
2,726
3,536.6
+30% in Louisville, KY

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
58.2°F
+10.0°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
44.9 in
+10.3 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.3
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$33.20
+50% in Louisville, KY

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 Louisville, KY
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 / KY)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.50%
+0.3 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Louisville?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Louisville, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Louisville?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).