Manhattan, KS vs Cedar Rapids, IA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is 1.3% less expensive than Manhattan, KS (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Manhattan works out to about $74,000 in Cedar Rapids, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.3% lower and other services 0.9% lower in Cedar Rapids, while housing is 0.7% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,226 a month in Cedar Rapids and $1,262 in Manhattan, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $247,000 in Cedar Rapids and $268,000 in Manhattan.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Manhattan and Cedar Rapids
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
All items Manhattan, KS: 90.2 Cedar Rapids, IA: 89.0
Goods Manhattan, KS: 94.0 Cedar Rapids, IA: 93.7
Housing (rents) Manhattan, KS: 72.0 Cedar Rapids, IA: 71.4
Utilities Manhattan, KS: 88.4 Cedar Rapids, IA: 84.0
Other services Manhattan, KS: 93.8 Cedar Rapids, IA: 92.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 89.0 |
| Goods | 94.0 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 71.4 |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 84.0 |
| Other services | 93.8 | 92.9 |
| Category | Manhattan | Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids vs Manhattan |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 89.0 | −1.3% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 93.7 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 71.4 | −0.7% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 84.0 | −5.0% |
| Other services | 93.8 | 92.9 | −0.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,262 | $1,226 | −2.9% |
| Typical home value | $268,000 | $247,000 | −8.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Manhattan | $75,000 | $74,000 | −1.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Manhattan and Cedar Rapids has narrowed since 2008: 7.1 points then, 1.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.8 | 92.9 |
| 2009 | 88.6 | 93.4 |
| 2010 | 93.0 | 93.5 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 92.7 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 93.7 |
| 2013 | 94.8 | 89.7 |
| 2014 | 94.7 | 92.5 |
| 2015 | 91.5 | 92.4 |
| 2016 | 89.5 | 91.1 |
| 2017 | 90.7 | 91.7 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 92.1 |
| 2020 | 91.7 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 90.7 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 89.4 | 90.0 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 90.0 |
| 2024 | 90.2 | 89.0 |
Goods
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.3 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 85.2 | 95.8 |
| 2010 | 93.9 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 95.3 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 94.2 | 96.7 |
| 2014 | 95.1 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 95.7 |
| 2018 | 95.0 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 94.0 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.4 | 73.1 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 75.6 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 75.6 |
| 2011 | 92.1 | 80.9 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 81.8 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 60.0 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 73.5 |
| 2015 | 89.0 | 78.2 |
| 2016 | 81.0 | 71.8 |
| 2017 | 89.2 | 77.9 |
| 2018 | 80.7 | 74.7 |
| 2019 | 76.5 | 72.6 |
| 2020 | 70.7 | 67.6 |
| 2021 | 67.7 | 77.7 |
| 2022 | 70.9 | 75.9 |
| 2023 | 71.8 | 71.2 |
| 2024 | 72.0 | 71.4 |
Utilities
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.6 | 88.5 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 90.8 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 89.9 |
| 2011 | 79.8 | 89.1 |
| 2012 | 80.5 | 89.0 |
| 2013 | 84.2 | 89.2 |
| 2014 | 85.4 | 84.0 |
| 2015 | 85.6 | 82.5 |
| 2016 | 90.9 | 81.3 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 88.4 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 101.6 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 100.6 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 103.2 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 91.1 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 88.4 | 84.0 |
Other services
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.7 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 94.9 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 94.6 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 95.6 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 96.3 |
| 2014 | 93.9 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 90.4 | 93.8 |
| 2016 | 89.7 | 94.8 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 92.9 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 92.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,226 in Cedar Rapids vs $1,262 in Manhattan
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $937 | $720 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $928 | $720 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $929 | $727 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $916 | $721 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $927 | $731 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $923 | $736 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $926 | $742 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $907 | $742 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $937 | $742 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $920 | $753 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $916 | $744 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $930 | $746 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $937 | $762 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $927 | $773 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $912 | $767 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $948 | $772 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $939 | $783 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $926 | $790 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $912 | $794 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $945 | $798 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $947 | $812 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $938 | $811 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $940 | $831 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $960 | $827 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $972 | $836 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $975 | $866 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $980 | $872 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,002 | $863 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,016 | $881 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,023 | $900 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,044 | $908 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,048 | $915 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,049 | $938 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,073 | $957 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,073 | $963 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,097 | $970 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,104 | $981 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,121 | $998 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,153 | $1,002 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,157 | $998 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,177 | $1,013 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,196 | $1,042 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,217 | $1,075 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,236 | $1,087 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,242 | $1,117 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,257 | $1,170 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,262 | $1,226 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $247,000 in Cedar Rapids vs $268,000 in Manhattan
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Cedar Rapids, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $165K | $150K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $167K | $151K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $170K | $152K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $171K | $153K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $171K | $153K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $153K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $170K | $153K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $172K | $154K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $175K | $155K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $177K | $157K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $178K | $158K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $179K | $160K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $181K | $162K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $182K | $163K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $181K | $165K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $181K | $166K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $182K | $169K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $184K | $171K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $185K | $172K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $187K | $174K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $189K | $175K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $189K | $176K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $192K | $179K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $195K | $183K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $199K | $186K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $207K | $192K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $211K | $198K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $213K | $200K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $219K | $205K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $225K | $214K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $227K | $216K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $227K | $216K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $216K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $232K | $221K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $233K | $224K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $234K | $224K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $236K | $226K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $239K | $229K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $242K | $229K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $248K | $231K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $253K | $234K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $255K | $235K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $237K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $263K | $240K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $266K | $242K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $266K | $244K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $268K | $247K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.