Grand Rapids, MI vs Lansing, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Lansing, MI 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 $74,600 in Lansing, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.6% lower in Lansing, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,302 a month in Lansing and $1,614 in Grand Rapids, $3,744 a year less in Lansing (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $246,000 in Lansing and $356,000 in Grand Rapids.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.0%).
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 Lansing
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
All items Grand Rapids, MI: 95.5 Lansing, MI: 95.0
Goods Grand Rapids, MI: 93.7 Lansing, MI: 93.7
Housing (rents) Grand Rapids, MI: 86.6 Lansing, MI: 83.5
Utilities Grand Rapids, MI: 93.8 Lansing, MI: 95.5
Other services Grand Rapids, MI: 99.6 Lansing, MI: 99.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 95.0 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 83.5 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| Category | Grand Rapids | Lansing | Lansing vs Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 95.0 | −0.6% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 83.5 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 95.5 | +1.9% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,614 | $1,302 | −19.3% |
| Typical home value | $356,000 | $246,000 | −30.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Grand Rapids | $75,000 | $74,600 | −0.6% |
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 Lansing has narrowed since 2008: 2.7 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
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 | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.6 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 95.6 | 97.1 |
| 2010 | 95.2 | 97.9 |
| 2011 | 94.2 | 95.0 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2014 | 95.1 | 96.1 |
| 2015 | 93.4 | 93.2 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 94.7 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 94.1 | 94.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 94.7 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 93.8 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 94.1 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 95.0 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 95.5 | 95.0 |
Goods
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 98.0 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 96.5 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 94.8 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.6 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 86.1 | 88.3 |
| 2010 | 83.6 | 96.1 |
| 2011 | 84.0 | 85.2 |
| 2012 | 82.8 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 87.1 | 89.8 |
| 2014 | 86.1 | 90.3 |
| 2015 | 82.3 | 78.5 |
| 2016 | 85.5 | 86.3 |
| 2017 | 78.9 | 86.1 |
| 2018 | 79.7 | 79.7 |
| 2019 | 86.0 | 80.3 |
| 2020 | 85.0 | 81.5 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 81.6 |
| 2022 | 85.8 | 85.6 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 77.0 |
| 2024 | 86.6 | 83.5 |
Utilities
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.2 | 95.2 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 103.2 |
| 2010 | 102.0 | 102.7 |
| 2011 | 102.3 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 103.1 | 105.0 |
| 2013 | 101.0 | 103.4 |
| 2014 | 92.8 | 94.4 |
| 2015 | 92.2 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 91.5 | 92.4 |
| 2017 | 93.8 | 96.7 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 101.4 |
| 2019 | 95.0 | 97.6 |
| 2020 | 98.5 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| 2022 | 93.5 | 94.4 |
| 2023 | 92.7 | 94.3 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 95.5 |
Other services
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Grand Rapids, MI | Lansing, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 98.5 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 94.4 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 95.5 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 94.5 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,302 in Lansing vs $1,614 in Grand Rapids
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
- 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 | Lansing, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $809 | $704 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $853 | $708 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $866 | $718 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $859 | $715 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $879 | $732 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $928 | $738 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $930 | $746 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $928 | $738 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $951 | $755 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $994 | $767 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $984 | $779 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $976 | $783 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $999 | $784 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,032 | $806 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,036 | $818 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,036 | $822 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,049 | $821 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,082 | $839 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,083 | $862 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,079 | $845 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,100 | $860 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,120 | $879 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,127 | $901 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,143 | $901 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,164 | $922 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,217 | $948 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,274 | $983 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,266 | $990 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,298 | $1,024 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,357 | $1,060 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,389 | $1,072 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,361 | $1,081 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,381 | $1,084 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,430 | $1,099 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,439 | $1,111 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,435 | $1,132 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,459 | $1,144 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,486 | $1,169 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,500 | $1,181 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,491 | $1,191 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,506 | $1,198 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,549 | $1,228 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,548 | $1,238 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,548 | $1,250 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,567 | $1,262 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,593 | $1,283 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,614 | $1,302 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $246,000 in Lansing vs $356,000 in Grand Rapids
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
- 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 | Lansing, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $153K | $121K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $157K | $123K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $159K | $124K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $163K | $126K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $167K | $129K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $129K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $174K | $131K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $178K | $134K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $183K | $137K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $188K | $139K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $191K | $141K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $193K | $144K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $197K | $147K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $202K | $150K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $205K | $151K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $207K | $152K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $210K | $154K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $214K | $158K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $216K | $160K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $219K | $163K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $223K | $166K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $227K | $168K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $232K | $172K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $179K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $253K | $186K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $268K | $193K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $274K | $193K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $278K | $192K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $293K | $201K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $307K | $210K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $304K | $210K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $302K | $209K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $303K | $210K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $309K | $214K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $313K | $217K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $316K | $220K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $320K | $223K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $326K | $228K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $327K | $230K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $331K | $233K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $335K | $236K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $336K | $236K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $238K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $346K | $241K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $351K | $244K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $352K | $245K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $356K | $246K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI
- Cost of living in Lansing, MI
- Reverse: moving from Lansing 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.