CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is significantly cheaper than Sacramento — 19.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $95,900 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+82.4%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+7.9%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+7.9%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+80.1%
Cedar Rapids
84
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$95,900
$15,900 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.1989. 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×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 82.4% 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

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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)

Sacramento, CA
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.