Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 10% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. 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.

El Paso, TX
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$707
$992
+40% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$816
$964
+18% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,206
+21% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,421
+13% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$225,500
+31% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$65,526
+12% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$47,570
+20% in Grand Rapids, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
32.1 yr
+2.0 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
54.6%
+5.6 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
40.1%
+12.6 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
23.7 min
19.4 min
+4.3 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
910.1
+185% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,506.2
+66% 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
64.6°F
49.1°F
+15.5°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
38.3 in
+28.6 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)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

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

El Paso vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Grand Rapids?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Grand Rapids?
El Paso 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).