Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 19% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$659
$893
+36% in Rutland, VT
1 Bedroom
$716
$856
+20% in Rutland, VT
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,097
+10% in Rutland, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,207
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$176,400
+0% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$55,000
+19% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
48.5 yr
+11.6 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
68.2%
52.7%
+15.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
32.2%
+0.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
14.7 min
+3.5 min in Cedar Rapids, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
487.8
+84% in Rutland, VT
Property Crime
2,726
3,973.3
+46% in Rutland, VT

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
44.6°F
+3.6°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
40.5 in
+5.9 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
24.4
+53% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$26.07
+18% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Rutland, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Rutland, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Rutland, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
8.75%
+5.0 pp in VT

Cedar Rapids vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Rutland?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Rutland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Rutland?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 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).