Cedar Rapids, IA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Cedar Rapids, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Cedar Rapids →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Cedar Rapids counts roughly 136,929 residents, and the median household brings in $66,895 annually — -7% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here roughly in line with the pack.
In Cedar Rapids, the median home is valued at $167,900 — below the median across the cities we track (-49%) — and typical rent runs $886 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
Buying a typical home in Cedar Rapids would take about 2.5 years of median household income, a comparatively affordable multiple by our tracked standards. The local market has seen 3.02% price growth over the past year — solid, sustainable movement rather than a rapid runup. FEMA rates Cedar Rapids's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate — comparatively low, which tends to keep home insurance costs in check.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $886/mo in Cedar Rapids would take 15.9% of your income.
$786/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($167,900) would take 16.1% of your income toward principal & interest.
$665/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Cedar Rapids
Median home value is $167,900 and median gross rent is $886/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Linn rose 3.02% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,071/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Cedar Rapids's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Cedar Rapids reported a violent crime rate of 265.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Cedar Rapids
Planning a move to Cedar Rapids? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA?
- Housing drives most of the cost-of-living picture in Cedar Rapids — median home value of $167,900, median rent of $886/month — set against a median household income of $66,895 (US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cedar Rapids?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Cedar Rapids, where median rent runs $886/month, you'd want to earn about $35,440 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Cedar Rapids.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Cedar Rapids?
- Comparing the two in Cedar Rapids: renting at the median $886/month needs about $35,440 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $167,900 median home needs roughly $38,415 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Cedar Rapids safe?
- FBI data puts Cedar Rapids's violent crime rate at 265.4 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Cedar Rapids →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Cedar Rapids's.