CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Portland — 14.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $91,600 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+47.3%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+3.7%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+11.1%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+11.0%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Portland
98
Utilities+60.2%
Cedar Rapids
84
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$91,600
$11,600 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.1449. 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×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Portland has 47.3% 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

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

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)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.