Cost of living comparison

 Lansing (MI), United States
compared to
 Washington (DC), United States
Washington vs. Lansing Cost of Living Summary

Washington is 73.4% more expensive than Lansing.

Restaurants
pay 34.9% more in Washington
Groceries
pay 65.6% more in Washington
Transportation
pay 55.3% more in Washington
Housing
pay 96.0% more in Washington
Childcare
pay 2.0 times more in Washington
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.0 times more in Washington
Clothing
pay 56.9% more in Washington

The cost of entertainment and sports, childcare, housing, groceries, clothing, and transportation in Washington are more expensive than in Lansing. Notably, entertainment and sports, childcare, and housing are significantly more expensive in Washington.

Washington vs. Lansing Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Washington instead of Lansing, you would:

pay 34.9% more for restaurants

 
Lansing
Washington
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $15.00
 
$25.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.00
 
$12.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.21
 
$2.78
 

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pay 65.6% more for groceries

 
Lansing
Washington
Bread
1 loaf
$2.75
 
$4.34
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.15
 
$7.84
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.28
 
$4.14
 

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pay 55.3% more for transportation

 
Lansing
Washington
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.41
 
$3.66
 
Monthly public transit pass $32.50
 
$75.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $32,849.87
 
$35,699.74
 

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pay 96.0% more for housing

 
Lansing
Washington
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.33
 
$66.46
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $900.83
 
$2,582.95
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $775.83
 
$2,028.70
 

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pay 2.0 times more for childcare

 
Lansing
Washington
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,294.79
 
$2,273.25
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $16,800.00
 
$38,250.00
 

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pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports

 
Lansing
Washington
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.00
 
$8.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.87
 
$5.55
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.00
 
$11.75
 

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pay 56.9% more for clothing

 
Lansing
Washington
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$45.58
 
$74.13
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$32.50
 
$50.77
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$82.00
 
$105.47
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: June 2025
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