CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs College Station, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
TX
College Station
91
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is slightly cheaper than College Station — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $81,800 in College Station. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.2%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
College Station
75.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
College Station
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
College Station
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
College Station
91.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
84
College Station
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in College Station, TX
$81,800
$1,800 more needed in College Station

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.0225. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

College Station, TX

Median Home Price
$301,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
75.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

College Station has 5.2% higher housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

College Station, TX

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
120,511
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareGovernmentResearch

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

82% of income left after rent (median)

College Station, TX
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% 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.