Living Cost Compare
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 58% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 36% higher in Washington, DC. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$659
$1,763
+168% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$716
$1,885
+163% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$997
$1,949
+95% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,335
$2,249
+68% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$177,100
$724,600
+309% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$67,859
$106,287
+57% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,360
$71,060
+44% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
34.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
68.2%
41.1%
+27.1 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.9%
63.6%
+30.7 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
18.2 min
30.3 min
+12.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
264.5
936.3
+254% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,726
3,627.9
+33% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+10.0°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
34.6 in
39.7 in
+5.1 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
24.4
+53% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$27.28
+23% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
10.75%
+7.0 pp in DC

Cedar Rapids vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Washington?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 58% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Washington?
Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).