Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,999 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $3,068 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,042 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $4,648 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,086 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $6,229 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Cedar Rapids, IA is about 35% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cedar Rapids, IA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Cedar Rapids, IA by 50%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 $15.05

$20.17 $20.17

-25.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.6 $68.6

$99.5 $99.5

-31.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 $10.60

$12.23 $12.23

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.60 $5.60

-5.89%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$3.12 $3.12

-37.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.43 $2.43

-39.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 $4.48

$6.93 $6.93

-35.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$8.20 $8.20

-24.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.97 $3.97

-26.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.58 $5.58

-18.64%

Eggs

$3.09 $3.09

$4.47 $4.47

-30.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.04 $14.04

$14.50 $14.50

-3.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.97 $10.97

$15.08 $15.08

-27.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$19.34 $19.34

-16.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.37 $5.37

-15.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.76 $1.76

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$4.32 $4.32

21.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.41 $4.41

7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.54 $2.54

3.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.70 $2.70

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.49 $2.49

-18.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.60 $2.60

-24.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.10 $9.10

$14.80 $14.80

-38.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 $11.11

$15.18 $15.18

-26.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.47 $2.47

-12.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.60 $3.60

-9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.54 $2.54

-32.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.48 $30.48

$76.3 $76.3

-60.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.30 $3.30

3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.38 $1.38

38.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.71 $42.71

$25.36 $25.36

68.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$31.6K $31.6K

-21.73%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.6K $26.6K

-4.14%

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

$209 $209

$186 $186

12.23%

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

$51.4 $51.4

$62.9 $62.9

-18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$66.2 $66.2

7.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.4 $99.4

$77.6 $77.6

28.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 $12.61

$14.74 $14.74

-14.45%

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

$962 $962

$2,039 $2,039

-52.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$39.9K $39.9K

-39.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 $61.5

$63.9 $63.9

-3.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.68 $48.68

$51.2 $51.2

-4.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

8.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$144 $144

-7.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 $1,112

$2,305 $2,305

-51.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 $730

$1,575 $1,575

-53.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 $1,760

$4,688 $4,688

-62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 $1,216

$2,737 $2,737

-55.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,533 $1,533

$4,063 $4,063

-62.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 $1,533

$2,696 $2,696

-43.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,726 $3,726

$5,019 $5,019

-25.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

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

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,112 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $448 – making Cedar Rapids, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,998 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA and $4,602 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $99.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cedar Rapids, IA, where all-in costs run around $1,999, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Cedar Rapids, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cedar Rapids, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cedar Rapids, IA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.