Cost of LivingUpdated 2026-11-11

Lansing, Michigan

Living in Lansing, Michigan is about 20% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 80 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,302 a month, 33% 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 46% of the area's $64,354 median household income.

Key Numbers

Gas (Regular)

$4.08

National: $3.98

โ†‘ 204.5%since 2000
โœ“ AAA Gas Prices

Avg Rent (All)

$1,302

National: $1,932

โ†‘ 30.9%since 2021
โœ“ Zillow ZORI Lansing, MI metro (2026-09)

Grocery Inflation

1.77%

Year-over-year

โœ“ BLS/FRED CPI

Fast Food Avg

$10.10

Combo meal

โ†‘ 4.3%YoY

Electricity

22.99ยข

per kWh ยท ~$207/mo

โ†‘ 24.7%vs US avg
โœ“ EIA Residential

Car Insurance

$248/mo

$2,980/yr

โ†‘ 38.6%vs national avg
โœ“ Bankrate/NAIC

Median Household Income

$64,354

45.7% goes to essentials

โ†“ 45.7%cost burden
โœ“ Census ACS 2023
๐Ÿš—

Car Insurance

Avg $2,980 in Lansing. Compare rates:

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Find Apartments

Avg rent $1,302/mo in Lansing. Browse listings:

Browse listings โ†’Verified listings

Grocery Prices

Grocery Prices โ€” 2000 to Present

National BLS averages ยท submit local prices below โ†“

Eggs (dozen)

Bird flu volatility

$0.97 in 2000 โ†’ $2.32 BLS avg

+137.9%

Milk (gallon)

$2.79 in 2000 โ†’ $4.10 BLS avg

$2.69 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+47.3%

Ground Beef (lb)

$1.48 in 2000 โ†’ $6.75 BLS avg

$6.49 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+355.5%

Bread (loaf)

$0.91 in 2000 โ†’ $1.86 BLS avg

$4.79 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+105.2%

Chicken Breast (lb)

$1.06 in 2000 โ†’ $2.03 BLS avg

$4.49 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+91.3%

Butter (lb)

$3.98 BLS avg

$4.99 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

-4.2% since 2018

Bacon (lb)

$2.75 in 2000 โ†’ $6.69 BLS avg

$5.32 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+143.1%

Cheddar Cheese (lb)

$3.84 in 2000 โ†’ $6.13 BLS avg

$4.00 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+59.6%

Pasta (lb)

$0.88 in 2000 โ†’ $1.38 BLS avg

$1.69 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+57.1%

Rice (5 lb)

$2.50 in 2000 โ†’ $5.50 BLS avg

$4.72 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+120.6%

Coffee (12 oz)

$2.65 in 2000 โ†’ $6.94 BLS avg

$9.99 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+161.3%

Orange Juice (64 oz)

Citrus shortage

$4.87 estimate

+39.1% since 2022

Potatoes (5 lb)

$1.96 in 2000 โ†’ $4.95 BLS avg

$3.29 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+152.6%

Apples (3 lb)

$4.99 estimate

$3.99 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+17.1% since 2022

Tomatoes (lb)

$1.44 in 2000 โ†’ $2.08 BLS avg

$1.79 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+44.4%

Lettuce (head)

$0.75 in 2000 โ†’ $1.96 BLS avg

+162.3%

Cooking Oil (48 oz)

$7.39 estimate

$3.79 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+43.2% since 2022

Yogurt (32 oz)

$4.69 estimate

$6.79 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+20.3% since 2022

Cereal (family size)

$5.83 estimate

$5.00 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+30.7% since 2022

Frozen Pizza

$8.22 estimate

$4.99 @ Kroger - Holmes Logan (Nov 2026)

+38.6% since 2022

Dining & Restaurants

Fast Food Meal

$10.10

Casual Dining

$17.48

Monthly Spend

$274.08

+4.3% YoY

Chain Restaurant Meal Prices โ€” 2022 vs. Today

Combo meal / typical order for one

McDonald's

2022: $6.26

$10.10

+61.3%

Wendy's

2022: $7.07

$10.91

+54.3%

Chipotle

2022: $7.57

$11.31

+49.4%

Starbucks

2022: $3.46

$4.80

+38.7%

Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.

Looking for an Apartment in Lansing?

Average 1BR: $1,068/mo ยท 2BR: $1,536/mo

Browse Lansing Apartments โ†’

Local Workforce

2024 ยท BLS QCEW

Total Jobs

156k

Median Weekly Pay

$1,318

$69k/yr

Top Sector

Education & Health Services

Household vs Worker Pay

$64k

household median

Employment by Sector โ€” Lansing

% of local workforce ยท avg weekly wage ยท 5-year growth trend

Education & Health Services
+5.0% 5yr$1,207/wk
17.4%

~$63k/yr

Trade, Transportation & Utilities
-4.5% 5yr$939/wk
12.3%

~$49k/yr

Professional & Business Services
-4.8% 5yr$1,627/wk
10.3%

~$85k/yr

Leisure & Hospitality
-8.4% 5yr$465/wk
7.9%

~$24k/yr

Construction
-11.7% 5yr$1,566/wk
6.5%

~$81k/yr

Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual ยท County FIPS 26065

Highest Paying Sector

Manufacturing

$1,647/wk ยท $86k/yr

Most Workers (lowest wage)

Leisure & Hospitality

$465/wk ยท $24k/yr

Lansing Cost of Living FAQ

Is Lansing, MI expensive to live in?

Lansing has a cost of living index of 80, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 20% cheaper than average. It is the most affordable of the 18 Michigan cities we track.

What is the average rent in Lansing, MI?

Typical rent in Lansing is $1,302 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 33% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,068 and two bedrooms about $1,536. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.

Is rent going up in Lansing?

Rent in Lansing rose 5.2% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.

How much is gas in Lansing?

Regular unleaded costs about $4.08 a gallon in Lansing 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 Lansing?

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 Lansing is about $207.

How much is car insurance in Lansing?

Full coverage car insurance averages $2,980 a year in Michigan, or about $248 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.

How much do you need to live in Lansing?

Median household income in the Lansing area is $64,354 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $29,379 a year, or 46% 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 Lansing compare with the rest of Michigan?

Rent in Lansing is 3% below the $1,346 average across the 18 Michigan cities we track, and its cost of living index of 80 compares with a state average of 92.

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