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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. And for the typical household, cedar Rapids leads at an index of 88 with rent at just $1,158/month — 39% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal da…
#1 Ranked: Cedar Rapids — cost index 88, 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 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $67,859 | 88 | $1,158 | Details |
| 2 | Des Moines | $63,966 | 88 | $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. And for the typical household, cedar Rapids leads at an index of 88 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Cedar Rapids (index 88, rent $1,158); Des Moines (index 88, rent $1,141). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
No sugarcoating: Why Cedar Rapids ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 88 on the cost index, residents save roughly 24% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,158/month while the median household pulls in $67,859/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 70, though Healthcare (90) lags behind. Home prices average $204,214 — $263,156 below the national median.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Cedar Rapids, the healthcare index sits at 90 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
The obvious answer isn't always the right one. And on balance, exhibit A: Cedar Rapids rent up 8% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Cedar Rapids has increased from $1,068 to $1,158/mo over the past 12 months — a 8% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's the kind of affordability that turns 'maybe someday' into 'next month.'
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
135,958 residents · Iowa
Look, Cedar Rapids earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 88 cost index sits 24 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 70, while Healthcare trails at 90 (that's pre-tax, of course).
210,381 residents · Iowa
Des Moines earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 88 cost index sits 24 points below the national baseline, and the $63,966 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $204,843 — $262,527 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 69, while Healthcare trails at 90.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Cedar Rapids | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $48,818 |
2Des Moines | 5.7% | 6.94% | 1.43% | $48,818 |
Cedar Rapids ranks #1 in Iowa for this analysis with a cost index of 88 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 88 and rent of $1,158/mo, while Des Moines (ranked #2) has a cost index of 88 and rent of $1,141/mo — a 0-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.