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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Evanston or is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids?
- Evanston is 11.9% more expensive than Grand Rapids.

Which city has more affordable housing, Evanston or Grand Rapids?
- Evanston housing costs are 98.7% more expensive than Grand Rapids housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids or is Health Care more affordable in Evanston.
- Health related expenses are 8.4% more in Evanston.
 Grand Rapids, MIEvanston, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock105.7100
 Food & Groceries95.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.0100
 Housing78.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$424,900$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock128.5100
 Miscellaneous100.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Evanston    20 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

be sure to take pictures of where you park... Full-scale parking scam going on in this town. They purposely obscure self-pay parking signs. Nine out of 10 visitors  More

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I've lived here for two years for school. Terrible place for students. Northwestern is a great school/campus, but the city itself is NOT student friendly. Everything  More

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Aside from everything else mentioned on this site about the bad aspects of Evanston - bot be overlooked is the NOISE. The People's Republic of Evanston CATERS to the  More

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