CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is significantly cheaper than Mount Vernon — 15.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $92,000 in Mount Vernon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+51.5%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation+7.0%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+7.0%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities+14.3%
Cedar Rapids
84
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$92,000
$12,000 more needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.1506. 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×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Mount Vernon has 51.5% higher housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

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

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

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)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.