Grand Rapids, MI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Grand Rapids, MI Summary

Cost of living in Grand Rapids research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Grand Rapids is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Michigan, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Grand Rapids is 90, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Grand Rapids is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Grand Rapids ranks as the #84 cheapest in Michigan out of 175.

  • Grand Rapids ranks as the #1,633 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Grand Rapids is $168,700.

  • The median income in Grand Rapids is $55,385.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
90
Grand Rapids's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Grand Rapids has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Grand Rapids has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Michigan's index of 92.

The standard of living in Grand Rapids ranks as #84 most affordable out of the 175 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Grand Rapids ranks as the #91 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Grand Rapids, check out:

84 out of 175
In Michigan
1,633 out of 6,412
In America

Grand Rapids Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Grand Rapids. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Grand Rapids is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Grand Rapids is 90.

  • The Health index in Grand Rapids is 95.

  • The Housing index in Grand Rapids is 70.

  • The Transportation index in Grand Rapids is 108.

  • The Utilities index in Grand Rapids is 100.

Living Expense Grand Rapids Michigan National Average
Overall 90 92 100
Services 98 96 100
Groceries 90 96 100
Health 95 94 100
Housing 70 80 100
Transportation 108 97 100
Utilities 100 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Grand Rapids Cost of Living Vs. MI

Grand Rapids, MI Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Grand Rapids is $168,700.

  • The Median Rent in Grand Rapids is $1,013.

  • The Median Income in Grand Rapids is $55,385.

  • The Home Value To Income in Grand Rapids is 3.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Grand Rapids is 0.22x.

Statistic Grand Rapids Michigan United States
Median Home Value $168,700 $172,100 $244,900
Median Rent $1,013 $946 $1,163
Median Income $55,385 $63,202 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.0x 2.7x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Grand Rapids, MI
$168,700
Median Home Value
$1,013
Median Rent
$55,385
Median Income

Grand Rapids, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Grand Rapids Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Shampoo $0.89 $1.06
Movie $11.37 $10.68
Bowling $16.78 $14.67
Haircut $20.22 $18.62
Beauty Salon $32.55 $39.05

Detailed Grand Rapids Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Ground Beef $4.5 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.12 $1.39
Milk $1.59 $2.05
Potatoes $2.75 $3.29
Pizza $10.16 $10.62
Beer $8.21 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.98 $2.34

Detailed Grand Rapids Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Optometrist $105.11 $108.57
Doctor $98.0 $116.17
Dentist $94.78 $99.13

Detailed Grand Rapids Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Gasoline $2.23 $2.22
Tire Balancing $60.0 $50.07

Detailed Grand Rapids Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
All Electricity $170.23 $167.67
Phone $181.0 $175.64

Grand Rapids SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
5
Amenities
10
Education
8
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Grand Rapids

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Grand Rapids. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Wyoming, MI has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Grand Rapids.

  • Kentwood, MI has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Grand Rapids.

  • Forest Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Grand Rapids.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Grand Rapids
Wyoming, MI 76,625 89 1.0x
Kentwood, MI 53,884 92 1.0x
Forest Hills, MI 28,327 112 1.2x
Walker, MI 25,149 91 1.0x
Cutlerville, MI 19,313 88 1.0x
Jenison, MI 17,570 94 1.0x
Grandville, MI 16,043 89 1.0x
Northview, MI 15,251 94 1.0x
East Grand Rapids, MI 11,381 115 1.3x
Comstock Park, MI 10,202 89 1.0x

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