Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 18% higher in Raleigh, NC. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,301
+97% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,323
+85% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,462
+47% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,715
+28% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$377,800
+113% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$82,424
+21% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$51,990
+5% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.7 yr
+2.2 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
51.2%
+17.0 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
52.9%
+20.0 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
18.2 min
23.4 min
+5.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
491.5
+86% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,726
2,838.4
+4% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+12.4°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
46.0 in
+11.4 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Raleigh, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.7
+7% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$30.10
+36% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC
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 / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.99%
+0.2 pp in NC

Cedar Rapids vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Raleigh?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Raleigh?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).