Howell, MI vs Grand Haven, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grand Haven, MI has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% higher than Howell, MI.

Howell, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,520 / month
Grand Haven, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,450 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Howell, MI and Grand Haven, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $225/month in Grand Haven, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,698 in Grand Haven, MI

Regional cost estimates: Howell, MI uses Detroit, MI. Grand Haven, MI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$225
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.7K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Howell, MI

Population:10K
Cost Index:
82.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$370K

Grand Haven, MI

Population:11K
Cost Index:
84.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$379K

Planning the move to Grand Haven?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Howell, MI

The Great Lakes State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Grand Haven, MI

The Great Lakes State

11K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Howell, MI vs Grand Haven, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 23.1%
Howell, MI
$1,549
Grand Haven, MI
$1,907
Difference
$357
more
Transportation
↓ 10.6%
Howell, MI
$1,735
Grand Haven, MI
$1,550
Difference
$184
less
Healthcare
↑ 27.3%
Howell, MI
$645
Grand Haven, MI
$821
Difference
$176
more
Other
↓ 4.2%
Howell, MI
$1,848
Grand Haven, MI
$1,771
Difference
$77.78
less
All Utilities
↓ 8.9%
Howell, MI
$637
Grand Haven, MI
$580
Difference
$56.87
less
Groceries
↑ 0.9%
Howell, MI
$1,086
Grand Haven, MI
$1,096
Difference
$10.24
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,050
To$1,000
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,270
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,520
To$1,450
↓ $70.00
3 Bed
From$2,110
To$1,840
↓ $270
Howell, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,320–$1,320/mo

Grand Haven, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Howell, MI
$7,725
Monthly in Grand Haven, MI
$225
Difference

Home Values

Howell
Grand Haven
$370K
Median Value
$379K
↑ +3.9%
YoY Change
↑ +3.9%
↑ +32.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.8%

Homes in Grand Haven are 3% more expensive than Howell

Calculate payment - HowellCalculate payment - Grand Haven

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Howell, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Grand Haven, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Howell, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Grand Haven, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Howell
Grand Haven
55 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
32.8%
Good Air Days
68.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Howell, MI to Grand Haven, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Grand Haven, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Howell, MI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Howell to Grand Haven moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Grand Haven, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Howell, MI vs Grand Haven, MI

How do the cost estimates for Howell, MI and Grand Haven, MI compare?

Grand Haven, MI has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% higher than Howell, MI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Howell, MI, the model estimates $152,698 in Grand Haven, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Howell, MI and Grand Haven, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,520/month in Howell, MI and $1,450/month in Grand Haven, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

Similar cost to Grand Haven, MI

Other cities in a similar price range

San Antonio, TXIndianapolis, INColumbus, OH

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison