Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 2% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,127
+14% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,146
+19% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,385
+15% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,545
+9% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$266,100
+18% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$66,981
+2% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$48,830
+3% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
54.6%
57.4%
+2.8 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
31.8%
+8.3 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
24.1 min
+4.7 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
558.4
+39% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,506.2
2,600.1
+4% in Jacksonville, FL

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
70.2°F
+21.1°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
49.2 in
+10.9 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.83/gal
+1% in Grand Rapids, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.1
+34% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$23.62
+20% in Jacksonville, FL

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 Jacksonville, FL
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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Grand Rapids vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Jacksonville?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Jacksonville?
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 Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Jacksonville?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax 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).