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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or is it cheaper to live in Richmond?
- Grand Rapids is 0.7% less expensive than Richmond.

Which city has more affordable housing, Grand Rapids or Richmond?
- Grand Rapids housing costs are 19.3% less expensive than Richmond housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Richmond or is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids.
- Health related expenses are 18.1% less in Grand Rapids.
 Richmond, VAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock94.5100
 Food & Groceries98.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock81.2100
 Housing96.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$247,900$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.1100
 Miscellaneous136.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Richmond    109 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Lived here for a year and it’s not perfect but it’s constantly improving now (areas redevloped, more businesses, job growth). Cost of living is great compared to  More

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Over 4 years ago

We love Richmond so much that when we talk about where we'd like to live if we could live anywhere in the US, we always come back to RVA. We live in the city proper  More

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Over 4 years ago

I'm an out-of-towner but am coming up on 1 year in Richmond. I would summarize it this way: the best thing and the worst thing about Richmond is its location. I'll  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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