Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

vs
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 11% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$992
+9% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$964
+19% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,206
+14% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,421
+22% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$225,500
+18% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$65,526
+11% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$47,570
+8% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
32.1 yr
+1.5 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
54.8%
54.6%
+0.2 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
40.1%
+7.0 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
26.7 min
19.4 min
+7.3 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
494.2
910.1
+84% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,434.5
2,506.2
+3% in Grand Rapids, MI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
49.1°F
+16.3°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
38.3 in
+1.3 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.85/gal
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
23.0
+44% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$19.72
+38% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Arlington, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Grand Rapids, MI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MI)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.25%
+4.3 pp in MI

Arlington vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Grand Rapids?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Grand Rapids under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).