Cost of living comparison
Grand Rapids is 14.1% more expensive than Detroit.
If you lived in Grand Rapids instead of Detroit, you would:
pay 19.9% more for restaurants
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.00
|
$18.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.00
|
$10.00
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.05
|
$2.46
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.81
|
$2.07
|
|
pay 7.9% more for groceries
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.94
|
$2.66
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.91
|
$6.01
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.40
|
$3.12
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.52
|
$3.90
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.00
|
$4.74
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$3.09
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.77
|
$0.66
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.84
|
$2.60
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$2.54
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.25
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.40
|
$1.14
|
|
pay 5.3% more for transportation
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$3.93
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$60.00
|
$35.00
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$23,195.00
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.94
|
$20.91
|
|
pay 3.6% less for housing
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$78.49
|
$59.88
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,266.67
|
$1,541.67
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$858.33
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$201.06
|
$96.47
|
|
pay 48.2% more for childcare
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$450.00
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$13,500.00
|
$10,000.00
|
|
pay 5.1% more for entertainment and sports
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.25
|
$5.00
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.66
|
$4.95
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.00
|
$8.00
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.95
|
$42.00
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.00
|
$12.00
|
|
pay 15.8% more for clothing
Detroit
|
Grand Rapids
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.50
|
$63.75
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.00
|
$40.83
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.29
|
$75.71
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.80
|
$120.00
|
|
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