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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,391 per month in Drogheda vs $1,999 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,546 per month in Drogheda vs $3,042 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,701 per month in Drogheda vs $4,086 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Drogheda costs about 70% more than Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Drogheda and Cedar Rapids, IA sit above the global median – Drogheda by 154%, Cedar Rapids, IA by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.28 €15.10

$15.05 $15.05

14.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.4 €82.5

$68.6 $68.6

37.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.33 €9.03

$10.60 $10.60

-2.55%

Cappuccino

$4.32 €3.77

$5.27 $5.27

-18.03%

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

$2.34 €2.05

$1.96 $1.96

19.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.35

$1.48 $1.48

4.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.33 €5.53

$4.48 $4.48

41.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 €5.47

$6.17 $6.17

1.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 €1.33

$0.82 $0.82

85.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 €2.27

$2.92 $2.92

-10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 €0.99

$4.54 $4.54

-75.11%

Eggs

$4.03 €3.52

$3.09 $3.09

30.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.34 €9.03

$14.04 $14.04

-26.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 €9.06

$10.97 $10.97

-5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.72 €10.24

$16.19 $16.19

-27.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 €2.63

$4.53 $4.53

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 €1.68

$1.21 $1.21

58.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 €1.45

$5.26 $5.26

-68.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 €2.98

$4.75 $4.75

-28.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 €1.25

$2.63 $2.63

-45.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 €0.81

$2.34 $2.34

-60.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 €0.88

$2.04 $2.04

-50.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 €1.36

$1.96 $1.96

-20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.35 €16.90

$9.10 $9.10

112.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.60 €11.88

$11.11 $11.11

22.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.57 €3.12

$2.16 $2.16

65.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 €3.25

$3.25 $3.25

14.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.72

$1.72 $1.72

80.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$149 €130

$30.48 $30.48

389.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 €4.36

$3.41 $3.41

46.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 €1.48

$1.91 $1.91

-10.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.92 €38.37

$42.71 $42.71

2.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 €1.79

$0.83 $0.83

146.99%

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

$42.3K €36.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

70.66%

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

$38.8K €33.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

52.49%

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

$280 €245

$209 $209

34.25%

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

$21.51 €18.80

$51.4 $51.4

-58.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.40 €38.79

$70.9 $70.9

-37.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 €62.4

$99.4 $99.4

-28.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$69.5 €60.7

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 €11.99

$12.61 $12.61

8.80%

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

$1,067 €932

$962 $962

10.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,090 €1,826

$24.2K $24.2K

-91.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.8 €79.4

$61.5 $61.5

47.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.29 €35.21

$48.68 $48.68

-17.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €90.1

$103 $103

0.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 €91.8

$134 $134

-21.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,405 €2,101

$1,112 $1,112

116.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,993 €1,741

$730 $730

173.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,258 €2,847

$1,760 $1,760

85.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,727 €2,382

$1,216 $1,216

124.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 €3,457

$1,533 $1,533

158.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,906 €2,539

$1,533 $1,533

89.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,535 €3,088

$3,726 $3,726

-5.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.55

6.49

-29.89%

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

Last update for Drogheda: July 12, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,405 in Drogheda versus $1,112 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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 5% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Drogheda versus $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Groceries tell a different story – $312 in Drogheda vs $372 in Cedar Rapids, IA – so Drogheda wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Drogheda is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,086 per month in Drogheda and $2,998 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Drogheda – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Drogheda and $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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 Drogheda at $3,391. In Cedar Rapids, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Drogheda 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, Drogheda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.