Cost of Living in Lansing, Michigan (2026)
COL Index
85
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$1,200
per month
Median HHI
$52K
per year
State Tax
4.1%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Lansing |
|---|---|
| ๐ HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $950 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,200 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $1,550 |
| Median home price | $220K |
| ๐ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 95 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $12 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $50 |
| ๐ TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $55 |
| Gas price/gal | $3.15 |
| Car insurance/mo | $145 |
| โก UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $158 |
| Internet/mo | $60 |
| ๐ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $52K |
| State income tax rate | 4.1% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 6.0% |
| ๐ OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 85 |
| Walk score / 100 | 34 |
Is Lansing affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,592/mo take-home
46% rent burden ยท Difficult
$50K
~$2,990/mo take-home
40% rent burden ยท Tight
$60K
~$3,588/mo take-home
33% rent burden ยท Manageable
$75K
~$4,484/mo take-home
27% rent burden ยท Comfortable
$80K
~$4,783/mo take-home
25% rent burden ยท Comfortable
$100K
~$5,979/mo take-home
20% rent burden ยท Very comfortable
$120K
~$6,745/mo take-home
18% rent burden ยท Very comfortable
$150K
~$8,431/mo take-home
14% rent burden ยท Very comfortable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Lansing.
Compare Lansing with other cities
Lansing vs New YorkCompare โLansing vs Los AngelesCompare โLansing vs ChicagoCompare โLansing vs HoustonCompare โ
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS ยท Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only