CICostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $74,600 in Cedar Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing20.0%
Albuquerque
89.2
Cedar Rapids
71.4
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Albuquerque
96.1
Cedar Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation5.7%
Albuquerque
103.5
Cedar Rapids
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.7%
Albuquerque
93.6
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Utilities+7.8%
Albuquerque
77.9
Cedar Rapids
84

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Cedar Rapids to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Cedar Rapids

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9319. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$353,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.6×

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$247,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Albuquerque has 20.0% lower housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$76,100
Per Capita Income
$43,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$75,300
Per Capita Income
$42,900
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Cedar Rapids, IA
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.