City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 5.4% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $105,400 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $308 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Grand Rapids, MI ($109,246 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.7% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,875 in Grand Rapids | $105,402 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $47,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$308/yr.
86 Strong offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$308/yr.
53 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Grand Rapids, MI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Colorado Springs → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $61,722 | +2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $74,678 | +2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $89,508 | +2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $106,437 | +2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $125,776 | +2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $61,900 | $65,244 (+6.7%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $107,520 | $113,328 (−15.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $76,270 | $80,390 (−5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $83,920 | $88,453 (−8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.