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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Iowa is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Cedar Rapids leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,158/month — 39% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Cedar Rapids — cost index 68, rent $1,158/mo, income $67,859
Cedar Rapids rent up 8% over the past year
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | 68 | $1,158 | Details |
| 2 | Des Moines | 67 | $1,141 | Details |
Iowa is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Cedar Rapids leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,158/month — 39% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Cedar Rapids comes in at #1. Rent is $1,158 a month. Household income is $67,859. The cost of living index is 68. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
The 3.5× rule is a conservative benchmark: lenders often approve up to 4-5× income, but 3.5× keeps monthly payments safely under 28% of gross income at typical rates. On $60K, that means targeting homes under $210,000. Cedar Rapids offers a median home at $204,214 — a 3.4× ratio with room to spare.
Bottom line: Cedar Rapids leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
135,958 residents · Iowa
Cedar Rapids earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 68 cost index sits 43 points below the national baseline, and the $67,859 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $204,214 — $263,156 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 68, while Healthcare trails at 94.
210,381 residents · Iowa
The #2 spot goes to Des Moines, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,141/month — saving renters $9,048 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 67, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. At a 21% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
We rank cities by their home-price-to-income ratio (median home price ÷ median household income). A lower ratio means homes are more attainable relative to local earnings. The standard benchmark is 3-5×; above 5× is considered stretched. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Cedar Rapids ranks #1 in Iowa for this analysis with a cost index of 68 and median income of $67,859.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Cedar Rapids (ranked #1) has a cost index of 68 and rent of $1,158/mo, while Des Moines (ranked #2) has a cost index of 67 and rent of $1,141/mo — a 1-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Cedar Rapids is $1,158/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $737 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Cedar Rapids is $204,214, which is 3.0× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Iowa has a 5.7% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.94%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.43%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.