CICostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Johnson City, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Johnson City is slightly cheaper than Cedar Rapids — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $79,000 in Johnson City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.5%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Johnson City
63.2
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Johnson City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Johnson City
99.9
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Johnson City
90.4
Utilities14.4%
Cedar Rapids
84
Johnson City
71.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Johnson City, TN
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Johnson City

Formula: salary × (87.9 ÷ 89) = salary × 0.9876. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Johnson City, TN

Median Home Price
$285,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
63.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Cedar Rapids has 11.5% lower housing costs compared to Johnson City.

Income & Job Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Johnson City, TN

Median Household Income
$57,500
Per Capita Income
$32,800
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
68,006
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

Johnson City, TN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.