City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

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

Peoria

Arizona
113
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$97,300
Median Income

The Verdict

27.4%

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

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
149
Peoria
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
98
Peoria
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
106
Peoria
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
95
Peoria
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
86
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Peoria's 149, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $495,000. The $300,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,500 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,725/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 98 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $466/month in Peoria. 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 106 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $424 in Peoria. 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 86 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $70,400 in Cedar Rapids and $97,300 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $86,106 respectively. Peoria 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 $2,270/month in Peoria. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 84 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 Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Peoria's is 149 with median homes at $495,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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