CostIndexUSA

Albany, NY vs Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
Albany
99.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Albany — 10.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albany, you would need $71,500 in Cedar Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing30.4%
Albany
102.6
Cedar Rapids
71.4
🛒 Groceries6.0%
Albany
99.7
Cedar Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation4.9%
Albany
102.6
Cedar Rapids
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.0%
Albany
92.9
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Utilities37.3%
Albany
134
Cedar Rapids
84

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albany to see what you'd need to earn in Cedar Rapids to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
$71,500
$8,500 less needed in Cedar Rapids

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 99.6) = salary × 0.8936. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albany, NY

Median Home Price
$350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
102.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Albany has 30.4% lower housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Albany, NY

Median Household Income
$82,400
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
98,111
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceTechnology

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albany, NY
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Cedar Rapids, IA
5.6×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.