CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
NE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is slightly cheaper than Lincoln — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $82,300 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+17.9%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities8.6%
Cedar Rapids
84
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$82,300
$2,300 more needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.0292. 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×

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Lincoln has 17.9% 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

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

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)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.