City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Grand Rapids, MI (95.5) and Pittsburgh, PA (94.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI goes as far as $99,100 in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,278 a month in Grand Rapids, MI versus $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $929 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Pittsburgh, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.4% moving from Grand Rapids, MI to Pittsburgh, PA ($106,437 → $110,047), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.3% in real buying power.
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Grand Rapids, MI | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,084 in Pittsburgh | $100,924 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$929/yr.
72 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Grand Rapids, MI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$929/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Grand Rapids, MI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Grand Rapids, MI to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Grand Rapids → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,815 | +4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,211 | +4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $92,543 | +4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,047 | +4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,042 | +4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $76,550 | $77,258 (+24.8%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $124,500 | $125,651 (+16.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $76,940 | $77,651 (+1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $82,370 | $83,131 (−0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.