Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 20% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio
$659
$795
+21% in Tucson, AZ
1 Bedroom
$716
$891
+24% in Tucson, AZ
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,146
+15% in Tucson, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$1,520
+14% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$242,200
+37% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$54,546
+20% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$47,760
+3% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.6 yr
+2.3 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
51.7%
+16.5 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
30.2%
+2.7 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.2 min
+4.0 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
645.8
+144% in Tucson, AZ
Property Crime
2,726
3,460
+27% in Tucson, AZ

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
70.2°F
+22.0°F in Tucson, AZ
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
11.6 in
+23.0 in in Cedar Rapids, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.2
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$24.74
+12% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
2.50%
+1.3 pp in IA

Cedar Rapids vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Tucson?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Tucson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Tucson?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).