Cost of living comparison
Detroit is 3.9% more expensive than Grand Rapids.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.0% less in Detroit
- Groceries
-
pay 8.1% less in Detroit
- Transportation
-
pay 20.6% more in Detroit
- Housing
-
pay 16.4% more in Detroit
- Childcare
-
pay 8.1% more in Detroit
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.1% more in Detroit
- Clothing
-
pay 16.9% less in Detroit
The cost of transportation, housing, entertainment and sports, and childcare in Detroit are more expensive than in Grand Rapids. Expenses including clothing, groceries, and restaurants are lower in Detroit.
If you lived in Detroit instead of Grand Rapids, you would:
pay 2.0% less for restaurants
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$20.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.00
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.57
|
$2.47
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.90
|
$1.78
|
|
pay 8.1% less for groceries
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.06
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.67
|
$4.96
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.15
|
$3.28
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.25
|
$3.24
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.70
|
$4.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$1.79
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.61
|
$0.54
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.11
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.20
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
|
$1.13
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.13
|
|
pay 20.6% more for transportation
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.39
|
$3.49
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$47.00
|
$66.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,800.00
|
$35,699.74
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$13.68
|
|
pay 16.4% more for housing
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.43
|
$58.33
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,983.33
|
$1,483.17
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,412.50
|
$1,092.83
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$89.97
|
$192.03
|
|
pay 8.1% more for childcare
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$950.00
|
$1,294.79
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$21,000.00
|
$16,800.00
|
|
pay 9.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.00
|
$6.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.92
|
$4.87
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.00
|
$10.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.99
|
$33.75
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.00
|
$12.50
|
|
pay 16.9% less for clothing
|
Grand Rapids
|
Detroit
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$61.77
|
$45.58
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.00
|
$32.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.61
|
$82.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.00
|
$99.00
|
|
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