Living Cost Compare
Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 28% higher in Austin, 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.

Austin, TX
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$1,348
$992
+26% in Austin, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,457
$964
+34% in Austin, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,776
$1,206
+32% in Austin, TX
3 Bedroom
$2,127
$1,421
+33% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$512,700
$225,500
+56% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$91,461
$65,526
+28% in Austin, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,950
$47,570
+16% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.5 yr
32.1 yr
+2.4 yr in Austin, TX
Homeownership
44.4%
54.6%
+10.2 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.2%
40.1%
+18.1 pp in Austin, TX
Avg Commute
24.0 min
19.4 min
+4.6 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
476.1
910.1
+91% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
3,290.7
2,506.2
+24% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.2°F
49.1°F
+18.1°F in Austin, TX
Annual Precipitation
34.9 in
38.3 in
+3.4 in in Grand Rapids, MI

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)
$1.25
—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

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

Austin vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Grand Rapids?
Austin 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).