City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 6.9% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $106,900 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,071 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Grand Rapids, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Fresno, CA to Grand Rapids, MI ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.4% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- 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
| Fresno, CA | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,528 in Grand Rapids | $106,920 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $47,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,071/yr.
90 Strong offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,071/yr.
49 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Grand Rapids, MI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Fresno → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $61,900 | $66,184 (−16.0%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $107,520 | $114,961 (−10.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $76,270 | $81,548 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $83,920 | $89,727 (−28.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.