CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
KS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Cedar Rapids and Wichita have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.3%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+5.4%
Cedar Rapids
84
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$79,900
$100 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 89) = salary × 0.9989. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Cedar Rapids has 7.3% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.