Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,760/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 $2,760 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 67% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 52% higher in San Francisco, CA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,560
+137% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$716
$2,425
+239% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$997
$2,982
+199% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$3,269
+145% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$1,380,500
+680% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$141,446
+108% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$74,260
+50% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
39.7 yr
+2.8 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
68.2%
38.5%
+29.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
60.1%
+27.2 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
31.2 min
+13.0 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
596.5
+126% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
2,726
3,962.2
+45% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+9.1°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
23.6 in
+11.0 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.55/gal
+44% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
34.7
+118% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$20.33
+8% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
13.30%
+9.5 pp in CA

Cedar Rapids vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or San Francisco?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 67% below San Francisco, CA's $2,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or San Francisco?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).