CostIndexUSA

Grand Rapids, MI vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Grand Rapids
95.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Grand Rapids is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 11.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Grand Rapids, you would need $89,400 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.3%
Grand Rapids
86.6
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Grand Rapids
93.7
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Grand Rapids
104.5
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Grand Rapids
94.6
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+61.3%
Grand Rapids
93.8
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$89,400
$9,400 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 1.1173. 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×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 50.3% higher housing costs compared to Grand Rapids.

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

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.