A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
5%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Kentwood Michigan National
Cost of living9489100
Goods & Services9093100
Groceries9599100
Health care9493100
Housing9574100
Transportation9597100
Utilities102101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Kentwood, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Kentwood? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Kentwood stands at 94, making it 6% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

In Kentwood, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Kentwood will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Kentwood Affordable?

Is Kentwood an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Kentwood, the median home price is 8.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Kentwood come in at $55,046, which is 0.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kentwood?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Kentwood, healthcare costs are 6.2% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Kentwood, the utilities index registers 2.3% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Kentwood, the groceries index is 5.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Kentwood cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kentwood is 5% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Kentwood is 6% lower than the national average
  • Kentwood housing is 5% lower than the national average
  • Michigan general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Michigan state income tax is 64% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kentwood

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Compare Kentwood, MI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$73,578$6,132$1,717$2,208
      Renters$37,295$3,108$870$1,119
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Kentwood, MI, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Kentwood, homeowners have a median income of $73,578. Using that number, a maximum of $1,717 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $37,295, which means there is a maximum of $870 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Michigan Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Michigan 6% 6%

      Michigan Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Michigan 4.25% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.53$24.261.1%
      Beauty Salon $56.27$45.5623.5%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.8%
      Shampoo $1.40$1.289.1%
      Movie $11.22$12.137.5%
      Bowling $22.17$18.0023.1%

      Groceries

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.51$5.845.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.69$1.577.7%
      Milk $4.84$4.673.6%
      Potatoes $4.77$4.933.3%
      Pizza $10.99$12.099.1%
      Beer $9.38$10.419.9%

      Health Care

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $91.40$125.6827.3%
      Doctor $139.14$135.782.5%
      Dentist $120.35$113.296.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.88$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $504.80$468.607.7%

      Housing

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $169,700.00$184,700.008.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,520.64$2,346.697.4%
      Apartment Rent $967.00$949.001.9%

      Transportation

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.42$3.461.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.57$59.921.1%

      Utilities

      Item Kentwood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.47$193.997.0%
      Phone $184.98$192.253.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wayland, MI4,2278911.1%
      Wyoming, MI75,9999010.4%
      Coopersville, MI4,388909.8%
      Middleville, MI3,447919.0%
      Cutlerville, MI17,988928.1%
      Kentwood, MI51,780946.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Perth Amboy, NJ51,58911919.4%
      Burien, WA51,58814039.8%
      La Crosse, WI51,543964.2%
      Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON52,025n/a 
      Placentia, CA52,04916969.3%
      Kentwood, MI51,780946.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.