Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cedar Rapids, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA: $2,058 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
100

Cost of Living Index in Cedar Rapids, IA
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Cedar Rapids, IA Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Cedar Rapids, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,058

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Cedar Rapids, IA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Cedar Rapids, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,058 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Austin, TX $2,663
Cedar Rapids, IA $2,058

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,080 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Austin, TX $4,133
Cedar Rapids, IA $3,080

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $4,101 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Austin, TX $5,603
Cedar Rapids, IA $4,101

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than in Cedar Rapids, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Cedar Rapids, IA 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$15.12 $15.12

37.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$69.7 $69.7

21.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.84 $10.84

13.65%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.81 $5.81

-3.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.79 $2.79

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.88 $1.88

32.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.63 $4.63

73.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$5.87 $5.87

53.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.70 $0.70

60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.46 $2.46

52.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.70 $4.70

-30.64%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.52 $2.52

65.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$14.10 $14.10

-8.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$10.94 $10.94

29.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$16.25 $16.25

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.93 $4.93

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.10 $1.10

32.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.26 $5.26

-14.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.58 $4.58

-5.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.59 $2.59

-0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.22 $2.22

5.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.01 $2.01

-11.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.23 $2.23

-0.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.01 $10.01

-1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.82 $10.82

39.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.18 $2.18

33.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.26 $3.26

6.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.71 $1.71

-12.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$30.20 $30.20

38.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.48 $3.48

-21.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.84 $1.84

-9.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$45.60 $45.60

-22.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.85 $0.85

11.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

1.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

$208 $208

10.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.4 $59.4

$52.0 $52.0

14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$70.2 $70.2

-0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$102 $102

-44.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$19.05 $19.05

-14.28%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$12.77 $12.77

11.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

$893 $893

68.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$12.8K $12.8K

67.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$62.5 $62.5

-15.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$63.5 $63.5

-31.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$128 $128

-33.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$152 $152

-32.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,141 $1,141

67.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$724 $724

76.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$1,637 $1,637

123.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$1,194 $1,194

112.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$1,582 $1,582

381.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$1,547 $1,547

104.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$3,682 $3,682

39.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.63

2.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$724 35.2% 43.2% $551

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$367 17.9% 9.2% $37

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$330 16% 8% $29

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$277 13.5% 21.8% $77

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$183 8.9% 42.7% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$128 6.2% 49.2% $42

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$50 2.4% 15.4% $9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,141 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $367 per month, with Cedar Rapids, IA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Cedar Rapids, IA

🕒 Local time

12:23 12:23 PM

Same time as Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

137,710

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Cedar Rapids, IA 1,410 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Cedar Rapids, IA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cedar Rapids, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 39% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,141 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,058 in Cedar Rapids, IA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cedar Rapids, IA runs roughly 38% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,058 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cedar Rapids, IA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Cedar Rapids, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Cedar Rapids, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cedar Rapids, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.