Cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI Livability score 63 · cost-of-living index 95.0 (US = 100)
How Grand Rapids compares Where Grand Rapids falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $360k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $360k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $218 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $218 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.16% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.16% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 460 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 460 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 83° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 83° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 16° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 16° Map of Grand Rapids Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 95.0 #94 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 #31 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.40 #91 of 200 Median household income $76,898 #72 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $40,067 #96 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.32% #43 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.6% #86 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $359,923 #113 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.7× #96 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.8% #20 of 200 Price per square foot $218 #133 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,623 #103 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,094 Median days on market 6 #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 1.16% #127 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,789 #109 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 #53 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 #99 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $200 #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.61% of value (~$171/yr) #109 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 3 Avg commute to work 22 min #43 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 21.4¢/kWh #141 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal #111 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,700 #175 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 51 #138 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 #14 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,600 #181 of 200 Avg summer high 83°F #21 of 200 Avg winter low 16°F #168 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 460 #143 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,600 #37 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 21 #162 of 200 Parks 25 Hiking areas 7 Golf courses 9 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 6
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.