Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,071 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,049 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,027 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Cedar Rapids, IA costs roughly 12% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cedar Rapids, IA 51% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 $14.81

$17.94 CA$24.74

-17.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.6 $69.6

$70.5 CA$97.3

-1.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$10.69 CA$14.74

3.74%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$3.79 CA$5.22

49.08%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.00 CA$2.76

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.98 CA$2.72

-6.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.19 CA$7.16

-13.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.86 CA$8.08

3.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.95 CA$2.69

-63.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.82 CA$3.89

-12.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$5.61 CA$7.74

-16.93%

Eggs

$2.41 $2.41

$3.75 CA$5.17

-35.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$11.50 CA$15.86

25.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$11.46 CA$15.81

-3.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 $16.38

$18.95 CA$26.14

-13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.83 CA$6.66

4.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.37 CA$1.89

-18.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.25 CA$5.86

22.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.15 CA$5.72

10.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.70 CA$3.73

-8.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.83 CA$3.90

-18.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.64 CA$3.64

-24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.51 CA$2.08

43.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 $10.00

$14.60 CA$20.14

-31.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.07 $11.07

$15.76 CA$21.73

-29.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.60 CA$3.58

-16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.08 CA$4.25

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.93 CA$4.04

-38.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.36 $30.36

$89.3 CA$123

-65.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.32 CA$4.58

4.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.43 CA$1.97

33.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.51 $45.51

$27.71 CA$38.21

64.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.26 CA$1.74

-31.75%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$28.9K CA$39.9K

24.94%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$21.3K CA$29.4K

27.44%

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

$202 $202

$183 CA$252

10.36%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$38.31 CA$52.8

36.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$51.7 CA$71.3

34.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.1 $99.1

$54.9 CA$75.7

80.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 $19.19

$18.66 CA$25.73

2.84%

Cinema Ticket

$12.86 $12.86

$14.26 CA$19.66

-9.82%

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

$884 $884

$828 CA$1,142

6.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

-19.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 $61.6

$59.6 CA$82.1

3.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.2 $62.2

$39.47 CA$54.4

57.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$94.3 CA$130

33.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$113 CA$156

34.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,141 $1,141

$1,265 CA$1,744

-9.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 $712

$1,051 CA$1,450

-32.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,934 CA$2,667

-16.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 $1,201

$1,700 CA$2,344

-29.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,554 $1,554

$3,680 CA$5,075

-57.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,573 $1,573

$3,333 CA$4,597

-52.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,625 $3,625

$3,276 CA$4,518

10.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

4.4

38.64%

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

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,141 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cedar Rapids, IA pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $397 per month, with Cedar Rapids, IA cheaper across the board.

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

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

Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA, 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: $1,141 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,071 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,071 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cedar Rapids, IA but tight or insufficient in Calgary. 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, Cedar Rapids, IA and Calgary 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 14% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.