CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Jonesboro, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Jonesboro is slightly cheaper than Cedar Rapids — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $77,200 in Jonesboro. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.6%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Jonesboro
53.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Jonesboro
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Jonesboro
100.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Jonesboro
90.5
Utilities10.7%
Cedar Rapids
84
Jonesboro
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jonesboro, AR
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Jonesboro

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 89) = salary × 0.9652. 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×

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Cedar Rapids has 24.6% lower housing costs compared to Jonesboro.

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

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.