Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 25% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$659
$877
+33% in Memphis, TN
1 Bedroom
$716
$948
+32% in Memphis, TN
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,073
+8% in Memphis, TN
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,281
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$157,100
+11% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$51,211
+25% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$46,890
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.3 yr
+2.6 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
46.0%
+22.2 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
28.2%
+4.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
21.3 min
+3.1 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
2,507.6
+848% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
2,726
6,966.3
+156% in Memphis, TN

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
63.1°F
+14.9°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
53.7 in
+19.1 in in Memphis, TN

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 MATA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.1
+12% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$19.75
+11% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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 Memphis, TN
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 / TN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Memphis?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Memphis?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).