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.
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:
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 | |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Item | Grand Rapids | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $91.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.35 | $113.29 |
| Item | Grand Rapids | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.57 | $59.92 |
| Item | Grand Rapids | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.98 | $192.25 |
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 |