CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $73,800 in Cedar Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.6%
Asheville
93.4
Cedar Rapids
71.4
🛒 Groceries3.0%
Asheville
96.6
Cedar Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation5.3%
Asheville
103.1
Cedar Rapids
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.4%
Asheville
93.3
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Utilities5.2%
Asheville
88.6
Cedar Rapids
84

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
$73,800
$6,200 less needed in Cedar Rapids

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9223. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Asheville, NC

Median Home Price
$413,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
93.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.7×

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Asheville has 23.6% lower housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Asheville, NC

Median Household Income
$67,800
Per Capita Income
$38,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
92,452
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareTechnologyArtsManufacturing

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Asheville, NC
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

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

82% 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.