2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Chelsea, MI vs Grand Rapids, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or is it cheaper to live in Chelsea?
- Grand Rapids is 10.4% less expensive than Chelsea.

Which city has more affordable housing, Grand Rapids or Chelsea?
- Grand Rapids housing costs are 30.1% less expensive than Chelsea housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Chelsea or is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids.
- Health related expenses are 0.4% more in Grand Rapids.
 Chelsea, MIGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock94.5100
 Food & Groceries99.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock81.2100
 Housing111.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$247,900$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.1100
 Miscellaneous130.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Chelsea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

I lived in Chelsea in the 1990s and occasionally return out of family obligation. It's marginally more affordable than neighboring Ann Arbor, thus its status as a  More

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Over 16 years ago

Beautiful small town with the best public library. Very convenient to interstate for travel and the excitement and interests of a college town nearby (Ann  More

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Over 17 years ago

Chelsea, Michigan has small town character with plenty of culture and recreation, too. With numerous art galleries, the famous Purple Rose Theatre by actor Jeff Daniels,  More

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Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

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Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

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Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

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