City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 6.3% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $106,300 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR and $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,921 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to Grand Rapids, MI changes real buying power by +6.3%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,071 in Grand Rapids | $106,303 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $47,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$3,921/yr.
88 Strong offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,921/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Eugene → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $61,900 | $65,801 (+2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $107,520 | $114,297 (−5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $76,270 | $81,077 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $83,920 | $89,209 (−21.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.