Cost of Living: Grand Rapids, MI vs Chicago, IL
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,268/mo in Grand Rapids, MI versus $4,227/mo in Chicago, IL. In the model, rent is about 13.85% of gross in Grand Rapids, MI versus 20.28% in Chicago, IL, so Grand Rapids, MI tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Grand Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Grand Rapids, MI
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Grand Rapids, MI
- Lower home prices: Chicago, IL
- Higher median household income: Grand Rapids, MI
Cost of Living Index
Grand Rapids, MI: 90.6 (U.S. = 100) · Chicago, IL: 98.3 (U.S. = 100)
Grand Rapids, MI has a lower cost-of-living index than Chicago, IL, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Grand Rapids, MI: $903/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Chicago, IL: $1,323/mo
Median rent in Chicago, IL is $420/mo higher than in Grand Rapids, MI.
Median Home Price
Grand Rapids, MI: $158,600 · Chicago, IL: $147,800
Median home price in Grand Rapids, MI is $10,800 higher than in Chicago, IL.
Median Household Income
Grand Rapids, MI: $56,875 · Chicago, IL: $56,815
Grand Rapids, MI has a higher median household income than Chicago, IL by $60.
Grand Rapids, MI overview · Chicago, IL overview · Popular comparisons