Residential comparison · 13 facts
Cedar Rapids, IA vs Iowa City, IA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Cedar Rapids needs about $87,500 in Iowa City to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Iowa City, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Cedar Rapids.
A few differences
- Cedar Rapids is higher on median household income ($70,424 vs $58,546).
- Cedar Rapids is lower on cost of living index (79 vs 85).
- Cedar Rapids is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,036/mo vs $1,120/mo).
Cedar Rapids vs Iowa City · facet by facet
| Facet | Cedar Rapids, IA | Iowa City, IA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $187,100 | $285,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,036/mo | $1,120/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Sales tax | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Cost of living index | 79 | 85 |
| Groceries index | 94 | 94 |
| Utilities | $150/mo | $150/mo |
| Median household income | $70,424 | $58,546 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3% |
| Crime index | 38/100 | 38/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Cedar Rapids, IA · Iowa City, IA
Questions & answers
- Is Cedar Rapids cheaper than Iowa City?
- Cedar Rapids has the lower day-to-day cost index (79 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Iowa City equals $85,000 in Cedar Rapids?
- A household earning $85,000 in Cedar Rapids needs about $87,500 in Iowa City to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Iowa City lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Cedar Rapids.