Lansing, MI vs Traverse City, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Traverse City, MI is 1.7% less expensive than Lansing, MI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Lansing works out to about $73,700 in Traverse City, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 6.4% less in Traverse City. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,853 a month in Traverse City and $1,302 in Lansing, $6,612 a year more in Traverse City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $419,000 in Traverse City and $246,000 in Lansing.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.2%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 6.4% lower in Traverse City than in Lansing
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.0 | 93.4 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 83.5 | 78.1 |
| Utilities | 95.5 | 92.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| Category | Lansing | Traverse City | Traverse City vs Lansing |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.0 | 93.4 | −1.7% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 83.5 | 78.1 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 95.5 | 92.4 | −3.3% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.6 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,302 | $1,853 | +42.3% |
| Typical home value | $246,000 | $419,000 | +70.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Lansing | $75,000 | $73,700 | −1.7% |
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 Lansing and Traverse City has narrowed since 2008: 13.0 points then, 1.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 85.3 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 89.4 |
| 2010 | 97.9 | 94.2 |
| 2011 | 95.0 | 88.2 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 91.7 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 90.1 |
| 2015 | 93.2 | 91.2 |
| 2016 | 94.7 | 89.7 |
| 2017 | 93.9 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 94.3 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 94.7 | 93.6 |
| 2020 | 93.8 | 90.4 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 93.4 |
| 2022 | 94.0 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 90.6 |
| 2024 | 95.0 | 93.4 |
Goods
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 76.8 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 84.7 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 93.4 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 94.1 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 94.7 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 96.8 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 93.7 |
| 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)
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.4 | 80.8 |
| 2009 | 88.3 | 84.6 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 93.4 |
| 2011 | 85.2 | 71.3 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 79.8 |
| 2013 | 89.8 | 75.0 |
| 2014 | 90.3 | 74.2 |
| 2015 | 78.5 | 84.8 |
| 2016 | 86.3 | 80.5 |
| 2017 | 86.1 | 80.5 |
| 2018 | 79.7 | 78.0 |
| 2019 | 80.3 | 79.5 |
| 2020 | 81.5 | 70.8 |
| 2021 | 81.6 | 81.4 |
| 2022 | 85.6 | 83.8 |
| 2023 | 77.0 | 69.5 |
| 2024 | 83.5 | 78.1 |
Utilities
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.2 | 86.4 |
| 2009 | 103.2 | 92.4 |
| 2010 | 102.7 | 100.6 |
| 2011 | 105.1 | 95.0 |
| 2012 | 105.0 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 103.4 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 94.4 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 93.4 |
| 2016 | 92.4 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 96.7 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 97.2 |
| 2019 | 97.6 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 97.9 |
| 2021 | 102.3 | 98.7 |
| 2022 | 94.4 | 92.4 |
| 2023 | 94.3 | 92.0 |
| 2024 | 95.5 | 92.4 |
Other services
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 94.5 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 99.1 | 94.8 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 92.5 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 94.7 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 93.5 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 94.1 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 90.4 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 89.7 |
| 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: $1,853 in Traverse City vs $1,302 in Lansing
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, 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
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $704 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $708 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $718 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $715 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $732 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $738 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $746 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $738 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $755 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $767 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $779 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $783 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $784 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $806 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $818 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $822 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $821 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $839 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $862 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $845 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $860 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $879 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $901 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $901 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $922 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $948 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $983 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $990 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,024 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,060 | $1,454 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,072 | $1,435 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,081 | $1,430 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,084 | $1,473 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,099 | $1,638 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,111 | $1,591 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,132 | $1,528 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,144 | $1,666 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,169 | $1,681 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,181 | $1,661 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,191 | $1,609 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,198 | $1,677 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,228 | $1,756 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,238 | $1,774 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,250 | $1,695 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,262 | $1,785 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,283 | $1,852 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,302 | $1,853 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $419,000 in Traverse City vs $246,000 in Lansing
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Lansing, MI
- Traverse City, 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
| Lansing, MI | Traverse City, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $121K | $196K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $123K | $197K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $124K | $199K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $126K | $203K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $129K | $207K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $129K | $208K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $131K | $208K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $134K | $211K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $137K | $216K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $139K | $220K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $141K | $223K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $144K | $226K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $147K | $231K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $150K | $234K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $151K | $238K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $152K | $240K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $154K | $243K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $158K | $244K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $160K | $246K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $163K | $250K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $166K | $257K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $168K | $256K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $172K | $261K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $179K | $276K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $186K | $294K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $193K | $315K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $193K | $327K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $192K | $332K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $201K | $347K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $210K | $366K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $210K | $367K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $209K | $366K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $210K | $367K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $214K | $380K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $217K | $388K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $220K | $388K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $223K | $392K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $228K | $398K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $230K | $402K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $233K | $407K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $236K | $407K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $236K | $408K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $238K | $407K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $241K | $410K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $244K | $415K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $245K | $417K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $246K | $419K | $366K |
More about each city
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.