Grand Rapids, MI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

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 93, 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 #89 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Grand Rapids ranks as the #1,658 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Grand Rapids is $297,964.

  • The median income in Grand Rapids is $65,526.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
93
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 93, 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 higher than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Grand Rapids ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 180 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:

89 out of 180
In Michigan
1,658 out of 6,489
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 90.

  • The Groceries index in Grand Rapids is 96.

  • The Health index in Grand Rapids is 95.

  • The Housing index in Grand Rapids is 90.

  • The Transportation index in Grand Rapids is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Grand Rapids is 103.

Living Expense Grand Rapids Michigan National Average
Overall 93 90 100
Services 90 93 100
Groceries 96 97 100
Health 95 91 100
Housing 90 72 100
Transportation 96 96 100
Utilities 103 99 100
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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Grand Rapids is $297,964.

  • The Median Rent in Grand Rapids is $1,191.

  • The Median Income in Grand Rapids is $65,526.

  • The Home Value To Income in Grand Rapids is 4.5x.

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

Statistic Grand Rapids Michigan United States
Median Home Value $297,964 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $1,191 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $65,526 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.5x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.18x 0.21x
$297,964
Median Home Value
$1,191
Median Rent
$65,526
Median Income

Grand Rapids, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Grand Rapids Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Optometrist $91.4 $125.68
Doctor $139.14 $135.78
Dentist $120.35 $113.29

Detailed Grand Rapids Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
Gasoline $3.42 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.57 $59.92

Detailed Grand Rapids Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Grand Rapids Michigan
All Electricity $180.47 $193.99
Phone $184.98 $192.25

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 90, 1.0x Grand Rapids.

  • Kentwood, MI has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Grand Rapids.

  • Forest Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x Grand Rapids.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Grand Rapids
Wyoming, MI 76,865 90 1.0x
Kentwood, MI 54,114 93 1.0x
Forest Hills, MI 28,494 118 1.3x
Walker, MI 25,201 99 1.1x
Cutlerville, MI 19,465 93 1.0x
Jenison, MI 17,334 101 1.1x
Grandville, MI 16,135 96 1.0x
Northview, MI 15,225 94 1.0x
East Grand Rapids, MI 11,394 123 1.3x
Comstock Park, MI 10,306 91 1.0x

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