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

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

7.9%

Living in Peoria costs 7.9% less than Cedar Rapids. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $69,512 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
42
Peoria
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
97
Peoria
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
103
Peoria
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
108
Peoria
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has the same purchasing power as $69,512 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $80,921 in Cedar Rapids.

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $164,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $461/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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Cedar Rapids and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $77,237 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 7.9% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 82.
A $75,000 salary in Cedar Rapids has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,512 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 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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