Home › MI › Grand Rapids, MI 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, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 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 Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 95.0 metro-area #94 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #31 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.40 metro-area #91 of 200 Median household income $76,898 metro-area #72 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $40,067 metro-area #96 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.6 years metro-area #47 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 35.4% metro-area #77 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.5% metro-area #134 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 74.3% metro-area #15 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.32% metro-area #43 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.6% metro-area #86 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $359,923 metro-area #113 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.7× metro-area #96 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.8% metro-area #20 of 200 Price per square foot $218 metro-area #133 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,623 metro-area #103 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,094 Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% state #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.16% metro-area #127 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,789 metro-area #109 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.6 years metro-area #48 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.4% metro-area #27 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 75 metro-area #105 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 state #99 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $200 state #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.61% of value (~$171/yr) state #109 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 3 Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #43 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.7% metro-area #128 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 26.4% metro-area #50 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.4¢/kWh state #141 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal state #111 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $74 state #28 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,700 state #175 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 83.1 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #50 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 51 metro-area #138 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 metro-area #14 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 87% state #151 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,600 metro-area #181 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 8 metro-area #38 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F -778 metro-area #1 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 83°F metro-area #21 of 200 Avg winter low 16°F metro-area #168 of 200 Annual precipitation 39.4" metro-area #78 of 200 Annual snowfall 77.6" metro-area #197 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 46% metro-area #194 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 460 state #143 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,600 state #37 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 21 metro-area #162 of 200 Parks 25 Hiking areas 7 Golf courses 9 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 6
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #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.
Top employers in Grand Rapids Major public and private employers in the Grand Rapids, MI area.
Salaries by occupation in Grand Rapids Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $166,880 Pharmacists $135,940 Lawyers $135,250 Marketing Managers $131,680 Physician Assistants $128,570 Financial Managers $127,660 Human Resources Managers $123,040 Construction Managers $101,650 Software Developers $100,300 General & Operations Managers $99,740 Physical Therapists $99,220 Mechanical Engineers $85,120 Web Developers $84,940 Data Scientists $84,010 Registered Nurses $81,050 Civil Engineers $80,370 Dental Hygienists $77,840 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,490 Accountants & Auditors $72,530 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $65,790 Elementary School Teachers $63,650 Electricians $61,120 Real Estate Sales Agents $55,940 Graphic Designers $53,120 Carpenters $50,180 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,060 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,340 Medical Assistants $39,510
Find a job in Grand Rapids Cities in the Grand Rapids area Grand Rapids (198,096) → Wyoming (76,732) → Kentwood (54,042) → Forest Hills (28,425) → Allendale (25,206) → Walker (25,175) → Cutlerville (19,281) → Jenison (17,314) → Grandville (16,017) → Northview (15,428) → Ionia (13,081) → East Grand Rapids (11,385) → Grand Haven (10,961) → Comstock Park (10,379) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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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 from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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