Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 4% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
Houston, TX

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,142
+15% in Houston, TX
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,156
+20% in Houston, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,375
+14% in Houston, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,664
+17% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$253,400
+12% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$62,894
+4% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$49,410
+4% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
34.3 yr
+2.2 yr in Houston, TX
Homeownership
54.6%
42.0%
+12.6 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
36.0%
+4.1 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
27.3 min
+7.9 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
1,153.8
+27% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
2,506.2
4,324.9
+73% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.1°F
70.3°F
+21.2°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
54.6 in
+16.4 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.52/gal
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.9
+31% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$31.89
+62% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Houston, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Grand Rapids, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

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

Grand Rapids vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Houston?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Houston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Grand Rapids versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Houston?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).