| Index | Grand Rapids | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 82 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 99 | 100 |
The cost of living in Grand Rapids affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Grand Rapids is 95, which is 5% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
In Grand Rapids, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Grand Rapids will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Grand Rapids affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Grand Rapids, the median home price is 15.9% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 23.3% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Grand Rapids boasting a median household income of $72,981, 10.3% lower than the national average.
Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Grand Rapids, the transportation index is 3.5% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Grand Rapids, the groceries index is 0.1% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
The Grand Rapids cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $94,666 | $7,889 | $2,209 | $2,840 |
| Renters | $29,767 | $2,481 | $695 | $893 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Minnesota | 5.35% | 9.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Zemple, MN | 123 | 77 | 23.3% |
| Marble, MN | 553 | 84 | 15.6% |
| Calumet, MN | 350 | 85 | 15.2% |
| Deer River, MN | 869 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Warba, MN | 192 | 88 | 12.4% |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 11,472 | 95 | 4.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Summit, IL | 11,472 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,470 | 95 | 5.3% |
| Forest, VA | 11,470 | 110 | 9.9% |
| La Homa, TX | 11,475 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Lanham, MD | 11,468 | 128 | 28.2% |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 11,472 | 95 | 4.9% |
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