Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Mesa?

Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Mesa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Mesa?

Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Cedar Rapids vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 14% higher in Mesa, AZ. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$659

$1,209

+83% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$716

$1,288

+80% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$997

$1,458

+46% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,335

$1,819

+36% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$177,100

$364,300

+106% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$67,859

$78,779

+16% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,360

$51,380

+4% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.9 yr

37.2 yr

+0.3 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

68.2%

64.4%

+3.8 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

31.5%

+1.4 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA

Avg Commute

18.2 min

25.0 min

+6.8 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

264.5

486.2

+84% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

2,726

1,488

+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

75.1°F

+26.9°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

34.6 in

8.0 in

+26.6 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.2

+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.16

$24.74

+12% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / AZ)

5.6%

+0.4 pp in IA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.80%

2.50%

+1.3 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Mesa?: Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Mesa?: Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).