Billings vs Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Billings
Cedar Rapids
The Verdict
Cedar Rapids is 19.5% less expensive than Billings overall. A household earning $75,000 in Billings would need approximately $62,755 in Cedar Rapids to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Billings has the same purchasing power as $62,755 in Cedar Rapids.
Conversely, $75,000 in Cedar Rapids equals $89,634 in Billings.
Living in Billings vs Cedar Rapids
Housing Costs
Billings's housing index of 93 is higher Cedar Rapids's 65, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $195,000. The $115,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,476 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Billings compared to $925/mo in Cedar Rapids, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Billings and 99 in Cedar Rapids. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Billings vs $470/month in Cedar Rapids. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Billings and 95 in Cedar Rapids. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Billings vs $380 in Cedar Rapids. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Billings and 102 in Cedar Rapids. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,438 in Billings and $70,400 in Cedar Rapids. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,569 and $85,854 respectively. Cedar Rapids residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,294/month to housing in Billings vs $1,643/month in Cedar Rapids. In Billings, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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