Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 6% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,102
+67% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,032
+44% in Norfolk, VA
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,214
+22% in Norfolk, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,602
+20% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$271,900
+54% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$64,017
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$49,430
+0% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
32.4 yr
+4.5 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
45.7%
+22.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
32.7%
+0.2 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.9 min
+4.7 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
479.5
+81% in Norfolk, VA
Property Crime
2,726
3,800.7
+39% in Norfolk, VA

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
61.3°F
+13.1°F in Norfolk, VA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
44.8 in
+10.1 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Norfolk, VA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
17.2
+8% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$27.20
+23% in Norfolk, VA

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 Norfolk, VA
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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.75%
+2.0 pp in VA

Cedar Rapids vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Norfolk?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Norfolk?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Norfolk?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).