City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Green Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

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

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

4.7%

Living in Cedar Rapids costs 4.7% less than Green Bay. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $78,659 in Green Bay.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
72
Green Bay
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
98
Green Bay
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
84
Green Bay
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
102
Green Bay
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
96
Green Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has the same purchasing power as $78,659 in Green Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $71,512 in Cedar Rapids.

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Green Bay

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $235,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $466/month in Green Bay. 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 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $336 in Green Bay. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Cedar Rapids and 96 in Green Bay. 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 $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $64,186 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 $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids is 4.7% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,659 in Green Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Green Bay's is 72 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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