Overall
89.0
-11.0 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Cedar Rapids, IA
Cost-of-living indicators for Cedar Rapids, IA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 89.0
- Overall RPP
- #312
- of 387 metros
- 71.4
- Rents RPP
- $112K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Cedar Rapids costs less than 81% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 89.0, 11.0% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 71.4.
- 89.0
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #312
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 19%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 71.4
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $112,406 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $88,963.
What the Numbers Mean for Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids ranks #312 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 89.0, Cedar Rapids, IA is 11.0% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Cedar Rapids's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 71.4 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $112,406 inside Cedar Rapids, while a household needs roughly $88,963 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 71.4 — 28.6% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Cedar Rapids's overall index has fallen by 3.9 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.7 and services at 84.0, meaning everyday spending in Cedar Rapids is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Cedar Rapids vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
89 Top 81% higher than 19% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Cedar Rapids cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
71.4 RPP
- Services
Services
84 RPP
- Overall
Overall
89 RPP
- Goods
Goods
93.7 RPP
What this shows Cedar Rapids's gap from the national average is led by rents at 71.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Cedar Rapids's cost comes from
Metros near Cedar Rapids's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.2, rents 66.2). Cedar Rapids is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Cedar Rapids's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Services
84.0
-16.0 below avg
Rents
71.4
-28.6 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$88,963
in Cedar Rapids, IA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$44,481
$75,000 nationally
$66,722
$125,000 nationally
$111,204
$150,000 nationally
$133,445
$200,000 nationally
$177,926
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.9 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.9 |
| 2009 | 93.4 |
| 2010 | 93.5 |
| 2011 | 92.7 |
| 2012 | 93.7 |
| 2013 | 89.7 |
| 2014 | 92.5 |
| 2015 | 92.4 |
| 2016 | 91.1 |
| 2017 | 91.7 |
| 2018 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 92.1 |
| 2020 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 90.0 |
| 2023 | 90.0 |
| 2024 | 89.0 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Cedar Rapids, IA's index of 89.0.
Other IA Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA? ▼
Cedar Rapids, IA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 89.0, meaning it is 11.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.7, services at 84.0, and rents at 71.4. It ranks #312 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Cedar Rapids, IA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $88,963 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Conversely, $100K earned in Cedar Rapids, IA has the purchasing power of $112,406 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Cedar Rapids, IA? ▼
Rents in Cedar Rapids, IA are indexed at 71.4, which is 28.6% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Cedar Rapids, IA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Cedar Rapids, IA's overall cost index changed by -3.9 points (from 92.9 to 89.0). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Cedar Rapids, IA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Wichita, Pocatello, Weirton-Steubenville. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Cedar Rapids, IA's 89.0.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
