2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Grand Rapids, MI vs San Jose, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Jose or is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids?
- San Jose is 144.4% more expensive than Grand Rapids.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Jose or Grand Rapids?
- San Jose housing costs are 448.0% more expensive than Grand Rapids housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids or is Health Care more affordable in San Jose.
- Health related expenses are 32.6% more in San Jose.
 Grand Rapids, MISan Jose, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries95.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing78.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,184,400$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock151.0100
 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 San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

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I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

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