City Comparison

Cedar Rapids vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cedar Rapids

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

Warwick

Rhode Island
106
Above Average
$413,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$74,600
Median Income

The Verdict

22.6%

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

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Cedar Rapids
127
Warwick
Groceries
99
Cedar Rapids
102
Warwick
Utilities
95
Cedar Rapids
112
Warwick
Transportation
92
Cedar Rapids
105
Warwick
Healthcare
102
Cedar Rapids
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Cedar Rapids vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Cedar Rapids's housing index of 65 is lower Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $413,000. The $218,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,172 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Cedar Rapids compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cedar Rapids and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cedar Rapids vs $485/month in Warwick. 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 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Cedar Rapids vs $448 in Warwick. 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 103 in Warwick. 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 $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,854 and $70,377 respectively. Cedar Rapids residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,643/month to housing in Cedar Rapids vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Cedar Rapids, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Warwick, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 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 Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Cedar Rapids's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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