Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 35% higher in Overland Park, KS. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,270
+93% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,224
+71% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,589
+59% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,828
+37% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$384,400
+117% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$103,838
+53% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$50,820
+3% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
38.6 yr
+1.7 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
68.2%
61.5%
+6.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
62.9%
+30.0 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
18.2 min
19.9 min
+1.7 min in Overland Park, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
188.4
+29% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Property Crime
2,726
1,790.5
+34% 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
55.2°F
+7.0°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
40.0 in
+5.4 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.7
+1% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$25.12
+13% in Overland Park, KS

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 / KS)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
5.58%
+1.8 pp in KS

Cedar Rapids vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Overland Park?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Overland Park?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).