Cost of living, Grand Rapids
95.5
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Grand Rapids sits about 4.5% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −4.5%
- Metro
- Grand Rapids
- CBSA
- 24340
Grand Rapids all-items RPP is 95.5 (2024), about 4.5% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $85,950 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Grand Rapids
| Component | Grand Rapids | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | 100 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 100 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Grand Rapids
| At US average | In Grand Rapids |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $57,300 |
| $90,000 | $85,950 |
| $150,000 | $143,250 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (95.5 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is 95.5, versus a US average of 100 (−4.5%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $85,950 in Grand Rapids for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 540 OEWS emp. $248,660
- Physicians, All Other , 2,200 OEWS emp. $179,910
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 1,520 OEWS emp. $156,280
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 1,590 OEWS emp. $142,700
- Pharmacists , 820 OEWS emp. $140,710
- Financial Managers , 2,820 OEWS emp. $133,380
See methodology and disclaimer.