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Cost of living in Lansing, MI

Livability score 67 · cost-of-living index 93.0 (US = 100)

Lansing, MI
Photo: Andrew Martin via Commons · CC BY 3.0

How Lansing compares

Where Lansing 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): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $250k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $250k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $152 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $152 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: 1.58% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.58% 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 Lansing

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

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.0 metro-area #73 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #31 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.29 metro-area #70 of 200
Median household income $68,270 metro-area #117 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $37,302 metro-area #140 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 36.5 years metro-area #45 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.3% metro-area #63 of 200
Foreign-born residents 7.0% metro-area #118 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 66.8% metro-area #96 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 5.43% metro-area #125 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +14.2% metro-area #13 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $250,377 metro-area #43 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.7× metro-area #29 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +3.7% metro-area #36 of 200
Price per square foot $152 metro-area #65 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,265 metro-area #20 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 1,244
Median days on market 7 metro-area #18 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS 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 1.58% metro-area #155 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,908 metro-area #117 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 76.6 years metro-area #96 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 5.3% metro-area #26 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 82 metro-area #69 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 state #99 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS 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 4
Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #48 of 200
Commute by driving alone 70.8% metro-area #45 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 22.7% metro-area #27 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS 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

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $2,700 state #175 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 76.0 — Relatively Low metro-area #16 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 40 metro-area #40 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 7 metro-area #32 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 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 34.3" metro-area #55 of 200
Annual snowfall 45.0" metro-area #157 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 53% metro-area #168 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 6a
Frost window 04-30 → 10-15

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS 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

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200
Parks 60
Hiking areas 15
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 4

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS 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 Lansing

Major public and private employers in the Lansing, MI area.

EmployerSectorJobs
State of Michigan Government Careers →
Michigan State University Education Careers →
Sparrow Health System Healthcare Careers →
Neogen Corporation Tech Careers →
Auto-Owners Insurance Finance Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Lansing

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $216,270
Pharmacists $133,310
Physician Assistants $130,730
Financial Managers $128,240
Lawyers $127,420
Human Resources Managers $123,200
Marketing Managers $119,870
General & Operations Managers $114,960
Construction Managers $105,230
Physical Therapists $100,500
Mechanical Engineers $97,250
Software Developers $96,730
Civil Engineers $85,860
Registered Nurses $81,540
Data Scientists $81,180
Dental Hygienists $78,830
Accountants & Auditors $76,610
Web Developers $76,020
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $73,010
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,340
Electricians $66,200
Elementary School Teachers $61,000
Carpenters $59,140
Graphic Designers $58,090
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $52,930
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,430
Medical Assistants $39,550

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