Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 7% higher in Huntsville, AL. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$992
$815
+18% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$964
$900
+7% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,080
+10% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,251
+12% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$263,100
+17% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$70,778
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$51,740
+9% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
54.6%
58.1%
+3.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
46.2%
+6.1 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.4 min
19.3 min
+0.1 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
483.2
+47% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,506.2
2,395.7
+4% 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
49.1°F
62.1°F
+13.0°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
54.3 in
+16.1 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Grand Rapids, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
16.4
+29% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$24.06
+22% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL
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 / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
5.00%
+0.8 pp in AL

Grand Rapids vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Grand Rapids versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Huntsville?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).