2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Cedar Rapids, IA vs Birmingham, AL

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or is it cheaper to live in Cedar Rapids?
- Birmingham is 6.4% more expensive than Cedar Rapids.

Which city has more affordable housing, Birmingham or Cedar Rapids?
- Birmingham housing costs are 51.9% less expensive than Cedar Rapids housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Cedar Rapids or is Health Care more affordable in Birmingham.
- Health related expenses are 19.3% more in Birmingham.
 Cedar Rapids, IABirmingham, ALUnited States
 Overall  Unlock87.0100
 Food & Groceries95.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock122.0100
 Housing56.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$101,300$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock88.4100
 Miscellaneous115.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Cedar Rapids    39 Reviews

My biggest gripe is the winter weather and more specifically the wind. The wind does not stop blowing the entire winter. It starts around November when NW winds start  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

Such a horrible place. The racism is too much. You cant even take a walk to the park without hearing a racial insult thrown at you. You cant even go to the store  More

   |    Reply

I grew up here, moved away, came back to raise my family and have been back since 1993. I love this city!!! There is SOOO much to do. There are 3-4 community theatre  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Cedar Rapids

Reviews for Birmingham    25 Reviews

Birmingham is better than ever, meaning it is beginning to gain half of the stuff a normal city of its size has. The food scene is definitely an exception and is above  More

   |    Reply

Lived in the Birmingham for years. The small city was divided by the historical train tracks into the north half and the south one. The north section was the  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

I moved to Birmingham 6.5 years ago for a new job. The city is very boring in my opinion, there isn't much to do over the weekend except shopping or eating out. Summer  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Birmingham


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.