True Cost of Renting in Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids is Iowa's second-largest city, home to Collins Aerospace (defense/avionics), Quaker Oats (largest single cereal-producing factory in the world on the Cedar River), and a growing tech ecosystem. The New Bohemia (NewBo) arts district has become one of Iowa's most interesting urban neighborhoods at prices that are genuinely hard to believe.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

New Bohemia District (NewBo)

Studio:
$700/mo
1 Bed:
$900/mo
2 Bed:
$1,300/mo

Cedar Rapids' arts and restaurant corridor in the Czech Village/New Bohemia neighborhoods; NewBo City Market, farm-to-table restaurants, and galleries. MidAmerican Energy electric. Czech Village historic district nearby. Gentrifying but still affordable by any standard.

Downtown Cedar Rapids

Studio:
$650/mo
1 Bed:
$850/mo
2 Bed:
$1,200/mo

Rebuilt after the 2008 flood; new construction along the Cedar River with flood protection infrastructure. Convention complex and arena nearby. Alliant Energy events center. Best connectivity to I-380 and major employers. Cedar Rapids' most modern residential option.

Utility Providers

Electric
MidAmerican Energy
Water
Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control
Internet
Mediacom, MetroNet, CenturyLink

Commute & Transportation

Cedar Rapids is 25 miles north of Iowa City on I-380. The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) offers United, Delta, and American connections. I-380 connects to I-80 at Iowa City. Collins Aerospace (RTX) is Cedar Rapids' largest employer with 7,000+ employees — its aerospace manufacturing facilities are on the eastern edge of the city. Quaker Oats' Cedar Rapids facility is one of the world's largest food manufacturing operations. Cargill grain processing and CRST trucking are also major employers.

Rental Market Overview

Cedar Rapids offers exceptional rental value. MidAmerican Energy's low rates apply here too ($0.09–0.11/kWh). Collins Aerospace (defense contracts) provides recession-resistant employment. The 2008 flood devastated downtown Cedar Rapids, but the subsequent decade of rebuilding created modern infrastructure and new apartment stock. For defense industry workers at Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids offers 1BR apartments at $850–1,000 — a fraction of comparable defense tech corridors on the coasts. MidAmerican Energy's wind-heavy generation mix keeps electric rates in the same low $0.09–0.11/kWh range it offers in Des Moines. Renters within commuting distance of Iowa City (25 miles south via I-380) sometimes choose Cedar Rapids specifically to avoid that market's university-driven price premium.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Cedar Rapids

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Cedar Rapids: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Cedar Rapids?
One-bedroom apartments in Cedar Rapids range from $850/month in Downtown Cedar Rapids to $900/month in New Bohemia District (NewBo). Two-bedroom units range from $1,200 to $1,300/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Cedar Rapids?
In Cedar Rapids, electricity is provided by MidAmerican Energy, water by Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control, and common internet providers include Mediacom, MetroNet, CenturyLink. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Cedar Rapids.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Cedar Rapids?
Downtown Cedar Rapids is the most affordable of the 2 Cedar Rapids neighborhoods covered here, at $850/month for a one-bedroom — $50 less than New Bohemia District (NewBo), roughly a 6% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Cedar Rapids expensive to rent in?
Across the 2 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Cedar Rapids runs about $875/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Cedar Rapids offers exceptional rental value. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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