CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is slightly cheaper than Cedar Rapids — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $79,200 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.8%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation+4.0%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Mobile
91.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
84
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$79,200
$800 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 89) = salary × 0.9899. 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×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Cedar Rapids has 15.8% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

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

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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)

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.