Cost of living in East Lansing

In East Lansing, United States, living costs about $1885 per month for one person and $4438 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is East Lansing compared to other cities?

East Lansing is 32% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does East Lansing compare to your city?

East Lansing is 48% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in East Lansing is, on average, 56% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in East Lansing?

Who is East Lansing a good fit for?

East Lansing is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is East Lansing so expensive?

The high cost of living in East Lansing is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in East Lansing?

Food costs in East Lansing are 19% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living.

Is public transport affordable in East Lansing?

Public transport in East Lansing is 39% lower than the European benchmark, making it a more affordable option for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1885 $
Without Rent
740 $
Rent & Utilities
1145 $
Food
565 $
Transport
46 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
6101 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
47.7K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 12.9 $
Dinner 72.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6 $
Capuccino 4.83 $
Coke, 330ml 2.37 $

Compare East Lansing with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.9 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.91 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.48 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.52 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.98 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.6 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.7 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.93 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.18 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.64 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.85 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.49 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.5 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.49 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.26 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 12.4 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.74 $
Cigarette pack 9.93 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.62 $
Monthly Pass 50.2 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.92 $
Taxi, 8 km 13.6 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 108 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.23 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.6 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.31 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.94 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 108 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 164 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 54.3 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 952 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,620 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,102 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,059 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,219 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,568 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 6,101 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.38%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 30.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 9.06 $
Haircut 16 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 69.5 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 44.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,284 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 16,726 $

Compare East Lansing with other top cities

Cayman Islands
East Lansing vs George Town (George Town is 93% more expensive)
Bahamas
East Lansing vs Nassau (Nassau is 46% more expensive) East Lansing vs Freeport (Freeport is 16% more expensive)
Vanuatu
East Lansing vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 25% more expensive) East Lansing vs Luganville (Luganville is 62% more expensive)
United States
East Lansing vs New York City (New York City is 115% more expensive) East Lansing vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 69% more expensive) East Lansing vs Chicago (Chicago is 41% more expensive) East Lansing vs Houston (Houston is 19% more expensive) East Lansing vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 26% more expensive) East Lansing vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 35% more expensive) East Lansing vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 16% more expensive) East Lansing vs San Diego (San Diego is 78% more expensive) East Lansing vs Dallas (Dallas is 35% more expensive) East Lansing vs San Jose (San Jose is 95% more expensive)
Canada
East Lansing vs Toronto (Toronto is 37% more expensive) East Lansing vs Montreal (Montreal is 4% more expensive) East Lansing vs Calgary (Calgary is 14% more expensive) East Lansing vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 19% more expensive) East Lansing vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 5% less expensive) East Lansing vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 7% less expensive) East Lansing vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 31% more expensive) East Lansing vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 41% more expensive) East Lansing vs Brampton (Brampton is 13% more expensive) East Lansing vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 14% more expensive)
Barbados
East Lansing vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 28% less expensive) East Lansing vs Holetown (Holetown is 26% less expensive)
Panama
East Lansing vs Panama City (Panama City is 27% less expensive) East Lansing vs Colon (Colon is 37% less expensive) East Lansing vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 35% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 44% less expensive) East Lansing vs David (David is 56% less expensive) East Lansing vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 49% less expensive) East Lansing vs Balboa (Balboa is 34% less expensive) East Lansing vs Pacora (Pacora is 34% less expensive) East Lansing vs Chitre (Chitre is 42% less expensive) East Lansing vs Penonome (Penonome is 42% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
East Lansing vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 34% less expensive) East Lansing vs Cayon (Cayon is 34% less expensive)
Cuba
East Lansing vs Havana (Havana is 46% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 25% less expensive) East Lansing vs Holguin (Holguin is 32% less expensive) East Lansing vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 19% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 44% less expensive) East Lansing vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 38% less expensive) East Lansing vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 17% less expensive) East Lansing vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 17% less expensive) East Lansing vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 42% less expensive) East Lansing vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 53% less expensive)
Costa Rica
East Lansing vs San Jose (San Jose is 34% less expensive) East Lansing vs Limon (Limon is 36% less expensive) East Lansing vs Liberia (Liberia is 52% less expensive) East Lansing vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 35% less expensive) East Lansing vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 32% less expensive) East Lansing vs Cartago (Cartago is 49% less expensive) East Lansing vs Heredia (Heredia is 34% less expensive) East Lansing vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 11% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 31% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
East Lansing vs Castries (Castries is 39% less expensive) East Lansing vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 37% less expensive)
Jamaica
East Lansing vs Kingston (Kingston is 30% less expensive) East Lansing vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 58% less expensive) East Lansing vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 46% less expensive) East Lansing vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 38% less expensive) East Lansing vs May Pen (May Pen is 56% less expensive) East Lansing vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 48% less expensive) East Lansing vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 55% less expensive) East Lansing vs Linstead (Linstead is 45% less expensive) East Lansing vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 40% less expensive) East Lansing vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 39% less expensive)
El Salvador
East Lansing vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 37% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 62% less expensive) East Lansing vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 38% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 43% less expensive) East Lansing vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 38% less expensive) East Lansing vs Apopa (Apopa is 39% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 36% less expensive) East Lansing vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 23% less expensive) East Lansing vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 42% less expensive) East Lansing vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 53% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
East Lansing vs St. John's (St. John's is 42% less expensive) East Lansing vs All Saints (All Saints is 43% less expensive)
Grenada
East Lansing vs St. George's (St. George's is 44% less expensive) East Lansing vs Grenville (Grenville is 44% less expensive)
Dominica
East Lansing vs Roseau (Roseau is 47% less expensive) East Lansing vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 40% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
East Lansing vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 48% less expensive) East Lansing vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 47% less expensive)
Belize
East Lansing vs Belize City (Belize City is 53% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 42% less expensive) East Lansing vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 61% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 29% less expensive) East Lansing vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 17% less expensive)
Guatemala
East Lansing vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 47% less expensive) East Lansing vs Mixco (Mixco is 66% less expensive) East Lansing vs Coban (Coban is 52% less expensive) East Lansing vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 59% less expensive) East Lansing vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 52% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 52% less expensive) East Lansing vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 54% less expensive) East Lansing vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 54% less expensive) East Lansing vs Flores (Flores is 54% less expensive) East Lansing vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 58% less expensive)
Honduras
East Lansing vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 56% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 45% less expensive) East Lansing vs Choloma (Choloma is 68% less expensive) East Lansing vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 66% less expensive) East Lansing vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 53% less expensive) East Lansing vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 54% less expensive) East Lansing vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 62% less expensive) East Lansing vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 62% less expensive) East Lansing vs Yoro (Yoro is 61% less expensive) East Lansing vs La Lima (La Lima is 54% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
East Lansing vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 58% less expensive) East Lansing vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 45% less expensive) East Lansing vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 59% less expensive) East Lansing vs Higuey (Higuey is 59% less expensive) East Lansing vs La Vega (La Vega is 70% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 56% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 61% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 72% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 67% less expensive) East Lansing vs Bonao (Bonao is 71% less expensive)
Nicaragua
East Lansing vs Managua (Managua is 59% less expensive) East Lansing vs Leon (Leon is 66% less expensive) East Lansing vs Masaya (Masaya is 62% less expensive) East Lansing vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 71% less expensive) East Lansing vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 66% less expensive) East Lansing vs Esteli (Esteli is 69% less expensive) East Lansing vs Granada (Granada is 63% less expensive) East Lansing vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 76% less expensive) East Lansing vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 65% less expensive) East Lansing vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 53% less expensive)