CostIndexUSA

Grand Rapids, MI vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Grand Rapids
95.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Huntsville is slightly cheaper than Grand Rapids — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Grand Rapids, you would need $78,000 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing10.0%
Grand Rapids
86.6
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Grand Rapids
93.7
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation2.9%
Grand Rapids
104.5
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare2.9%
Grand Rapids
94.6
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities10.6%
Grand Rapids
93.8
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Grand Rapids to see what you'd need to earn in Huntsville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9749. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Grand Rapids has 10.0% lower housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Household Income
$78,000
Per Capita Income
$44,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
198,917
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationTechnology

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Grand Rapids, MI
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.