Living Cost Compare
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 12% 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 $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 16% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Grand Rapids, MI
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$992
$864
+13% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$964
$866
+10% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,109
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,135
+20% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$225,500
$185,100
+18% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$65,526
$55,279
+16% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,570
$49,990
+5% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.1 yr
36.6 yr
+4.5 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
54.6%
45.4%
+9.2 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.1%
40.2%
+0.1 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
19.4 min
22.2 min
+2.8 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
910.1
1,372.9
+51% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,506.2
5,794.9
+131% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+6.6°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
40.9 in
+2.7 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
16.2
+29% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$28.78
+46% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
4.70%
+0.5 pp in MO

Grand Rapids vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% 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 St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Grand Rapids versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Rapids or St. Louis?
Grand Rapids is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).