CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Bakersfield — 11.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $70,600 in Cedar Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.9%
Bakersfield
90.3
Cedar Rapids
71.4
🛒 Groceries10.9%
Bakersfield
105.2
Cedar Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Bakersfield
105.3
Cedar Rapids
97.6
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Bakersfield
95.3
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Utilities46.9%
Bakersfield
158.3
Cedar Rapids
84

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
$70,600
$9,400 less needed in Cedar Rapids

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.8821. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
90.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Bakersfield has 20.9% lower housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
8.4%
Population
384,145
Top Industries
AgricultureEnergyHealthcareLogisticsManufacturing

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).

Bakersfield, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.