CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
AR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Cedar Rapids and Little Rock have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.3%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities11.2%
Cedar Rapids
84
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$80,400
$400 more needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.0045. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Cedar Rapids has 4.3% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

82% of income left after rent (median)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.