Grand Rapids, Michigan
Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan is close to the national average, with a cost of living index of 98 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,614 a month, 16% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.08 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 41% of the area's $80,390 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.08
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,614
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$10.50
Combo meal
Electricity
22.99¢
per kWh · ~$207/mo
Car Insurance
$224/mo
$2,691/yr
Median Household Income
$80,390
40.8% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,691 in Grand Rapids. Compare rates:
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,614/mo in Grand Rapids. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$10.50
Casual Dining
$20.50
Monthly Spend
$278
+5% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $6.50
$10.20
+56.9%Wendy's
2022: $7.30
$11.20
+53.4%Chipotle
2022: $8.20
$11.80
+43.9%Starbucks
2022: $3.70
$5.10
+37.8%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Grand Rapids?
Average 1BR: $1,323/mo · 2BR: $1,905/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
416k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,198
$62k/yr
Top Sector
Education & Health Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$80k
household median
Employment by Sector — Grand Rapids
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$64k/yr
~$61k/yr
~$57k/yr
~$76k/yr
~$26k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 26081
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$1,723/wk · $90k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$506/wk · $26k/yr
Grand Rapids Cost of Living FAQ
Is Grand Rapids, MI expensive to live in?
Grand Rapids has a cost of living index of 98, where 100 is the US average, so it is close to average. It is the 2nd most expensive of the 18 Michigan cities we track.
What is the average rent in Grand Rapids, MI?
Typical rent in Grand Rapids is $1,614 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 16% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,323 and two bedrooms about $1,905. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Grand Rapids?
Rent in Grand Rapids rose 4.3% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Grand Rapids?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.08 a gallon in Grand Rapids as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Michigan. That is 2% above the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Grand Rapids?
Homes in Michigan pay an average of 23.0 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Grand Rapids is about $207.
How much is car insurance in Grand Rapids?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,691 a year in Michigan, or about $224 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Grand Rapids?
Median household income in the Grand Rapids area is $80,390 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $32,834 a year, or 41% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Grand Rapids compare with the rest of Michigan?
Rent in Grand Rapids is 20% above the $1,346 average across the 18 Michigan cities we track, and its cost of living index of 98 compares with a state average of 92.
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