Rents are 5% below what Grand Rapids's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,602 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Grand Rapids usually run 1.1% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in July, about $40 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Grand Rapids is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Grand Rapids changed +4.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Grand Rapids rose 37.3% while median household income rose 37.9% ($50,103 to $69,108). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Grand Rapids is 44.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($69,108) is $1,728 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,476); a 3-bedroom is $1,924.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Grand Rapids, 49505 ($1,869/mo), costs 35% more than the cheapest, 49504 ($1,384/mo).
Northview, 4 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,289/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Grand Rapids. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Grand Rapids, MI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 41.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Grand Rapids, MI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Grand Rapids, MI stood at $1,178 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,602, reflecting a 36.0% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $69,108 today, compared with $55,385 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 46% of households, compared with 44.5% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 41.6% of adults here, versus 38.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Grand Rapids on your salary?
At $1,602/mo, how Grand Rapids rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Grand Rapids rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Grand Rapids. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Grand Rapids
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Grand Rapids is $1,602/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,476/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,234/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,924/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($69,108/yr), Grand Rapids ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Grand Rapids rent compare to other cities in Michigan?
At $1,602/mo, rent takes ~28% of Grand Rapids's median household income ($69,108/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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