Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 8% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$992
$981
+1% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$964
$904
+6% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,064
+12% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,292
+9% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$221,200
+2% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$60,583
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$45,790
+4% in Grand Rapids, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
54.6%
54.2%
+0.4 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
44.0%
+3.9 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
19.4 min
18.3 min
+1.1 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
1,673
+84% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
2,506.2
5,251.5
+110% in Little Rock, AR

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
62.7°F
+13.6°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
49.8 in
+11.5 in in Little Rock, AR

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
14.1
+39% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$27.86
+41% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR
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 / AR)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
3.90%
+0.4 pp in MI

Grand Rapids vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Rapids than in Little Rock?
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 Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or Little Rock?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).