Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Worcester?

Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Worcester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Worcester?

Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cedar Rapids vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$659

$1,087

+65% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$716

$1,028

+44% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$997

$1,476

+48% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,335

$1,675

+25% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$177,100

$339,500

+92% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$67,859

$67,544

+0% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,360

$57,830

+17% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.9 yr

34.1 yr

+2.8 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA

Homeownership

68.2%

42.4%

+25.8 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

34.1%

+1.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

18.2 min

25.1 min

+6.9 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

264.5

640.2

+142% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

2,726

1,580.3

+42% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

47.9°F

+0.3°F in Cedar Rapids, IA

Annual Precipitation

34.6 in

48.1 in

+13.5 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.6

+86% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.16

$30.66

+38% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.80%

9.00%

+5.2 pp in MA

Cedar Rapids vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids or Worcester?: Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cedar Rapids than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cedar Rapids versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Cedar Rapids or Worcester?: Cedar Rapids is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).