City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Overland Park

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

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

Overland Park

Kansas
106
Above Average
$414,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$104,800
Median Income

The Verdict

22.6%

Living in Cedar Rapids costs 22.6% less than Overland Park. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $96,951 in Overland Park.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
109
Overland Park
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
96
Overland Park
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
98
Overland Park
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
95
Overland Park
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
102
Overland Park

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has the same purchasing power as $96,951 in Overland Park.

Conversely, $75,000 in Overland Park equals $58,019 in Cedar Rapids.

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Overland Park

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Overland Park's 109, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $414,000. The $219,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,232 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,450/mo in Overland Park, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 96 in Overland Park. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $456/month in Overland Park. 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 Overland Park. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $392 in Overland Park. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Cedar Rapids and 102 in Overland Park. 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 $104,800 in Overland Park. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $98,868 respectively. Overland Park residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,643/month to housing in Cedar Rapids vs $2,445/month in Overland Park. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Overland Park, median rent of $1,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids is 22.6% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,951 in Overland Park, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Overland Park's is 109 with median homes at $414,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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