Grand Rapids, MI vs Kankakee, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Kankakee, IL and Grand Rapids, MI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Grand Rapids works out to about $75,700 in Kankakee, before taxes.
- Housing is 7.2% higher in Kankakee, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,327 a month in Kankakee and $1,614 in Grand Rapids, $3,444 a year less in Kankakee (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $227,000 in Kankakee and $356,000 in Grand Rapids.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.4%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Grand Rapids and Kankakee
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
All items Grand Rapids, MI: 95.5 Kankakee, IL: 96.4
Goods Grand Rapids, MI: 93.7 Kankakee, IL: 93.6
Housing (rents) Grand Rapids, MI: 86.6 Kankakee, IL: 92.9
Utilities Grand Rapids, MI: 93.8 Kankakee, IL: 89.4
Other services Grand Rapids, MI: 99.6 Kankakee, IL: 99.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 96.4 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 92.9 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| Category | Grand Rapids | Kankakee | Kankakee vs Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 96.4 | +0.9% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 92.9 | +7.2% |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 89.4 | −4.6% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,614 | $1,327 | −17.8% |
| Typical home value | $356,000 | $227,000 | −36.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Grand Rapids | $75,000 | $75,700 | +0.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Grand Rapids and Kankakee has narrowed since 2008: 3.9 points then, 0.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.6 | 99.5 |
| 2009 | 95.6 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 95.2 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 94.2 | 100.0 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 95.6 | 98.5 |
| 2014 | 95.1 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 93.4 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 97.6 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 98.3 |
| 2018 | 94.1 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 94.4 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 90.6 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 95.0 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 95.5 | 96.4 |
Goods
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 | 104.7 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 106.4 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 104.9 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 105.9 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 103.3 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 98.0 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 96.5 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 94.8 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 97.6 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 94.1 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 90.8 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.6 | 84.1 |
| 2009 | 86.1 | 75.6 |
| 2010 | 83.6 | 81.2 |
| 2011 | 84.0 | 79.9 |
| 2012 | 82.8 | 84.1 |
| 2013 | 87.1 | 85.2 |
| 2014 | 86.1 | 85.3 |
| 2015 | 82.3 | 81.5 |
| 2016 | 85.5 | 81.7 |
| 2017 | 78.9 | 76.7 |
| 2018 | 79.7 | 78.7 |
| 2019 | 86.0 | 80.8 |
| 2020 | 85.0 | 69.4 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 71.5 |
| 2022 | 85.8 | 76.6 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 74.1 |
| 2024 | 86.6 | 92.9 |
Utilities
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.2 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 102.0 | 90.0 |
| 2011 | 102.3 | 91.1 |
| 2012 | 103.1 | 87.3 |
| 2013 | 101.0 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 92.8 | 90.2 |
| 2015 | 92.2 | 92.9 |
| 2016 | 91.5 | 93.5 |
| 2017 | 93.8 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 95.0 | 88.4 |
| 2020 | 98.5 | 89.2 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 93.5 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 92.7 | 85.8 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 89.4 |
Other services
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 103.4 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 103.1 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 104.4 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 96.2 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 94.4 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 95.5 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 94.5 | 104.0 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 98.0 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,327 in Kankakee vs $1,614 in Grand Rapids
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $809 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $853 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $866 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $859 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $879 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $928 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $930 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $928 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $951 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $994 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $984 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $976 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $999 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,032 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,036 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,036 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,049 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,082 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,083 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,079 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,100 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,120 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,127 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,143 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,164 | $928 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,217 | $961 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,274 | $962 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,266 | $945 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,298 | $1,000 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,357 | $1,034 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,389 | $1,046 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,361 | $1,069 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,381 | $1,064 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,430 | $1,096 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,439 | $1,108 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,435 | $1,141 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,459 | $1,137 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,486 | $1,181 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,500 | $1,171 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,491 | $1,214 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,506 | $1,218 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,549 | $1,237 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,548 | $1,255 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,548 | $1,255 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,567 | $1,261 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,593 | $1,281 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,614 | $1,327 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $227,000 in Kankakee vs $356,000 in Grand Rapids
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kankakee, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Kankakee, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $153K | $127K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $157K | $129K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $159K | $129K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $163K | $129K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $167K | $130K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $131K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $174K | $130K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $178K | $130K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $183K | $133K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $188K | $134K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $191K | $133K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $193K | $136K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $197K | $138K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $202K | $140K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $205K | $140K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $207K | $141K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $210K | $146K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $214K | $148K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $216K | $148K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $219K | $150K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $223K | $152K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $227K | $153K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $232K | $156K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $163K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $253K | $169K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $268K | $172K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $274K | $173K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $278K | $175K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $293K | $183K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $307K | $189K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $304K | $187K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $302K | $187K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $303K | $190K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $309K | $192K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $313K | $197K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $316K | $200K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $320K | $202K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $326K | $206K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $327K | $207K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $331K | $211K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $335K | $214K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $336K | $212K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $214K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $346K | $220K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $351K | $226K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $352K | $226K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $356K | $227K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI
- Cost of living in Kankakee, IL
- Reverse: moving from Kankakee to Grand Rapids
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.