Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 7% higher in Omaha, NE. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$659
$908
+38% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$716
$984
+37% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,193
+20% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,437
+8% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$230,100
+30% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$72,708
+7% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$49,660
+1% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.3 yr
+1.6 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
57.7%
+10.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
40.3%
+7.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
18.2 min
19.6 min
+1.4 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
359
+36% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
2,726
3,153.5
+16% in Omaha, NE

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
51.1°F
+2.9°F in Omaha, NE
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
30.6 in
+4.0 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
13.3
+17% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$20.10
+9% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.55%
+0.8 pp in NE

Cedar Rapids vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Omaha?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Omaha?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).