Cost of Living: Portage, MI vs Grand Rapids, MI

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,268/mo in Portage, MI versus $4,268/mo in Grand Rapids, MI. In the model, rent is about 16.32% of gross in Portage, MI versus 13.85% in Grand Rapids, MI, so Grand Rapids, MI tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Portage, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Grand Rapids, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Portage, MI
16.32%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Grand Rapids, MI
13.85%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Portage, MI and Grand Rapids, MI.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Grand Rapids, MI
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Grand Rapids, MI
  • Lower home prices: Grand Rapids, MI
  • Higher median household income: Portage, MI

Cost of Living Index

Portage, MI: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Grand Rapids, MI: 90.6 (U.S. = 100)

Grand Rapids, MI has a lower cost-of-living index than Portage, MI, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Portage, MI: $1,064/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Grand Rapids, MI: $903/mo

Median rent in Portage, MI is $161/mo higher than in Grand Rapids, MI.

Median Home Price

Portage, MI: $243,400 · Grand Rapids, MI: $158,600

Median home price in Portage, MI is $84,800 higher than in Grand Rapids, MI.

Median Household Income

Portage, MI: $79,529 · Grand Rapids, MI: $56,875

Portage, MI has a higher median household income than Grand Rapids, MI by $22,654.

Portage, MI overview · Grand Rapids, MI overview · Popular comparisons