CostIndexUSA

Grand Rapids, MI vs San Bernardino, 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
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Grand Rapids is moderately cheaper than San Bernardino — 11.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Grand Rapids, you would need $89,100 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+49.3%
Grand Rapids
86.6
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries+8.2%
Grand Rapids
93.7
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.7%
Grand Rapids
104.5
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Grand Rapids
94.6
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities+58.4%
Grand Rapids
93.8
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$89,100
$9,100 more needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 1.1141. 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×

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

San Bernardino has 49.3% 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

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

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)

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.