Uprootmap
Iowa City vs Cedar Rapids
Iowa City and Cedar Rapids
Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Cedar Rapids are under the US rate in this release, 4.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Iowa City to Cedar Rapids
In 2022-2023, 825 households filed a move from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids (about 1,272 people, average adjusted gross income $64,556). 740 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $911 in Iowa City and $904 in Cedar Rapids. Iowa City has a state tax on wages. Cedar Rapids has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Cedar Rapids is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Iowa City.
Cedar Rapids averages 202 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 17°F. Iowa City is 207 sunny days, 82°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Cedar Rapids and 20 in Iowa City.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 825 households moved Iowa City → Cedar Rapids (about 1,272 people, average AGI $64,556). 740 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 47 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,550–$2,950
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$1,950
- Rent a truck
- $350–$650
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Dig into Cedar Rapids
Questions
Is Cedar Rapids cheaper than Iowa City after tax and rent?
No. Cedar Rapids leaves about $67 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $904 in Cedar Rapids.
Does Cedar Rapids have state income tax?
Cedar Rapids is in Iowa, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.