What is the cost of living in East Lansing, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Lansing has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, East Lansing has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in East Lansing ranks as #145 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies East Lansing ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in East Lansing, check out:
East Lansing Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Lansing. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Lansing is 96.
The Groceries index in East Lansing is 99.
The Health index in East Lansing is 107.
The Housing index in East Lansing is 101.
The Transportation index in East Lansing is 99.
The Utilities index in East Lansing is 98.
| Living Expense | East Lansing | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 107 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
East Lansing Cost Of Living Compared To Michigan Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in East Lansing Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
East Lansing, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in East Lansing is $311,382.
The Median Rent in East Lansing is $1,171.
The Median Income in East Lansing is $45,687.
The Home Value To Income in East Lansing is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Lansing is 0.31x.
| Statistic | East Lansing | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $311,382 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,171 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $45,687 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
East Lansing, MI Costs By Category
Detailed East Lansing Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | East Lansing | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.22 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.53 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed East Lansing Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | East Lansing | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.51 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.69 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.84 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.38 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed East Lansing Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | East Lansing | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $91.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.35 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Lansing Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | East Lansing | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.57 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Lansing Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | East Lansing | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.98 | $192.25 |
East Lansing SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Lansing
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Lansing. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lansing, MI has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x East Lansing.
Okemos, MI has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x East Lansing.
Holt, MI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x East Lansing.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Lansing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing, MI | 113,023 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Okemos, MI | 26,396 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Holt, MI | 25,316 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Waverly, MI | 23,575 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Haslett, MI | 18,559 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Mason, MI | 8,249 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Grand Ledge, MI | 7,804 | 93 | 0.9x |
| St. Johns, MI | 7,715 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Eaton Rapids, MI | 5,183 | 89 | 0.9x |
