Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/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 $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 30% higher in South Burlington, VT. 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
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,557
+136% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,533
+114% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,805
+81% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$2,356
+76% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$399,600
+126% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$97,229
+43% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$60,020
+22% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
38.8 yr
+1.9 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
68.2%
60.1%
+8.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
65.1%
+32.2 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
18.2 min
18.9 min
+0.7 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
239.4
+9% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Property Crime
2,726
4,446
+63% in South Burlington, 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
46.0°F
+2.2°F in Cedar Rapids, IA
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
36.8 in
+2.2 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
24.4
+53% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$26.07
+18% in South Burlington, 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 South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, 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 South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or South Burlington?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or South Burlington?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington 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).