City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Glendale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

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

Glendale

Arizona
113
Above Average
$405,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

27.4%

Living in Cedar Rapids costs 27.4% less than Glendale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $103,354 in Glendale.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
119
Glendale
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
103
Glendale
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
98
Glendale
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
103
Glendale
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
94
Glendale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has the same purchasing power as $103,354 in Glendale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Glendale equals $54,425 in Cedar Rapids.

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Glendale

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Glendale's 119, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $405,000. The $210,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,656 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,400/mo in Glendale, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 103 in Glendale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $489/month in Glendale. 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 98 in Glendale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $392 in Glendale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Cedar Rapids and 94 in Glendale. 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 $70,100 in Glendale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $62,035 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 $1,636/month in Glendale. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Glendale, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids is 27.4% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $103,354 in Glendale, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Glendale's is 119 with median homes at $405,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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