Phoenix vs. Cedar Rapids Cost of Living Summary

Phoenix is 35.7% more expensive than Cedar Rapids.

Restaurants
pay 30.3% more in Phoenix
Groceries
pay 28.1% more in Phoenix
Transportation
pay 32.1% more in Phoenix
Housing
pay 60.6% more in Phoenix
Childcare
pay 95.2% more in Phoenix
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.6% less in Phoenix
Clothing
pay 14.9% less in Phoenix

The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, restaurants, and groceries in Phoenix are more expensive than in Cedar Rapids. Expenses including clothing and entertainment and sports are lower in Phoenix. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Phoenix.

Phoenix vs. Cedar Rapids Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Phoenix instead of Cedar Rapids, you would:

pay 30.3% more for restaurants

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $15.00
 
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.99
 
$14.50
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.83
 
$3.22
 

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pay 28.1% more for groceries

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Bread
1 loaf
$2.51
 
$4.16
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.12
 
$7.05
 
Milk (1 gallon) $2.70
 
$3.10
 

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pay 32.1% more for transportation

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.28
 
$4.62
 
Monthly public transit pass $30.00
 
$64.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,531.00
 
$36,293.00
 

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pay 60.6% more for housing

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$69.50
 
$77.73
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,156.25
 
$1,777.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $719.00
 
$1,426.15
 

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pay 95.2% more for childcare

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $879.75
 
$1,819.33
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $12,631.67
 
$23,262.50
 

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pay 0.6% less for entertainment and sports

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.50
 
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.71
 
$6.14
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.80
 
$10.69
 

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pay 14.9% less for clothing

 
Cedar Rapids
Phoenix
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$62.47
 
$61.77
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$63.33
 
$43.31
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$128.26
 
$110.18
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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