City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Cheyenne

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

Iowa
82
Very Affordable
$195,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$70,400
Median Income

Cheyenne

Wyoming
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$57,834
Median Income

The Verdict

13.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 13.7%, with Cedar Rapids being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to $86,890 in Cheyenne.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
85
Cheyenne
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
98
Cheyenne
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
90
Cheyenne
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
98
Cheyenne
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
100
Cheyenne

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has the same purchasing power as $86,890 in Cheyenne.

Conversely, $75,000 in Cheyenne equals $64,737 in Cedar Rapids.

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Cheyenne

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Cheyenne's 85, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $280,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,100/mo in Cheyenne, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 98 in Cheyenne. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $466/month in Cheyenne. 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 95 in Cedar Rapids and 90 in Cheyenne. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $360 in Cheyenne. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Cedar Rapids and 100 in Cheyenne. 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 $70,400 in Cedar Rapids and $57,834 in Cheyenne. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $60,878 respectively. Cedar Rapids residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,643/month to housing in Cedar Rapids vs $1,349/month in Cheyenne. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Cheyenne, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids is 13.7% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,890 in Cheyenne, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Cheyenne's is 85 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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