Rockford, IL vs Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cedar Rapids, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.8% lower than Rockford, IL.

Rockford, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,110 / month
Cedar Rapids, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,080 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Rockford, IL and Cedar Rapids, IA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Rockford, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $604/month in Cedar Rapids, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,750 in Cedar Rapids, IA

Regional cost estimates: Rockford, IL uses Madison, WI. Cedar Rapids, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 10.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$604

Savings

Annual Impact

$7.3K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Rockford, IL

Population:146K

Cost Index:

103.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$158K

Cedar Rapids, IA

Population:136K

Cost Index:

92.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$197K

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Rockford, IL

The Prairie State

146K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 146K residents.

Cedar Rapids, IA

The Hawkeye State

136K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 136K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rockford, IL vs Cedar Rapids, IA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Rockford, IL	Cedar Rapids, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,359/mo	$2,058/mo	↓ $301less	12.8%
Other	$1,704/mo	$1,591/mo	↓ $114less	6.7%
Transportation	$1,339/mo	$1,230/mo	↓ $108less	8.1%
Groceries	$921/mo	$890/mo	↓ $30.56less	3.3%
All Utilities	$488/mo	$460/mo	↓ $27.72less	5.7%
Healthcare	$690/mo	$667/mo	↓ $22.65less	3.3%

Housing

↓ 12.8%

Rockford, IL

$2,359

Cedar Rapids, IA

$2,058

Difference

$301

less

Other

↓ 6.7%

Rockford, IL

$1,704

Cedar Rapids, IA

$1,591

Difference

$114

less

Transportation

↓ 8.1%

Rockford, IL

$1,339

Cedar Rapids, IA

$1,230

Difference

$108

less

Groceries

↓ 3.3%

Rockford, IL

$921

Cedar Rapids, IA

$890

Difference

$30.56

less

All Utilities

↓ 5.7%

Rockford, IL

$488

Cedar Rapids, IA

$460

Difference

$27.72

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.3%

Rockford, IL

$690

Cedar Rapids, IA

$667

Difference

$22.65

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$770

To$740

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$850

To$825

↓ $25.00

2 Bed

From$1,110

To$1,080

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$1,470

To$1,500

↑ $30.00

Rockford, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$1,130/mo

Cedar Rapids, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$930/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Rockford, IL

$6,896

Monthly in Cedar Rapids, IA

$604

Difference

Home Values

Rockford

Cedar Rapids

$158K

Median Value

$197K

↑ +8.6%

YoY Change

↑ +3.9%

↑ +69.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.6%

$102K - $256K

Price Range

$117K - $432K

Homes in Cedar Rapids are 24% more expensive than Rockford

Calculate payment - Rockford Calculate payment - Cedar Rapids

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $3.3K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$273

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.2%

Rate difference

Rockford, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Cedar Rapids, IA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Iowa State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.7K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.7K

Take-Home Pay

$8,524/month

$102.3K

Additional Tax Information

Rockford, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Rockford

Cedar Rapids

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

72.1%

Good Air Days

67.5%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Rockford, IL to Cedar Rapids, IA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Cedar Rapids, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Rockford, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Rockford to Cedar Rapids moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Cedar Rapids, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Rockford, IL vs Cedar Rapids, IA

How do the cost estimates for Rockford, IL and Cedar Rapids, IA compare?

Cedar Rapids, IA has a modeled overall cost index 10.8% lower than Rockford, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Rockford, IL, the model estimates $142,750 in Cedar Rapids, IA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Rockford, IL and Cedar Rapids, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,110/month in Rockford, IL and $1,080/month in Cedar Rapids, IA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com