on $100k a year, leaving Springfield
changea dispatch from
grand rapids
MI
42.96°N
85.67°W
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
the verdict
under Springfield, every month
Grand Rapids gives you room Springfield doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
15% cheaper than Springfield(vs $1,913/mo)
4.25%
$62/mo less in state tax than Springfield
vs 5% in Springfield
$6,359/mo
$355 more than Springfield
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
5% cheaper than Springfield
vs $373k in Springfield
1.2M
vs 460k in Springfield
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
Springfield barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 11.5× more on the calendar than Springfield.
56/100
15% lower than Springfield
vs 66/100 in Springfield
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
11% higher than Springfield
vs 87/100 in Springfield
20
23% fewer than Springfield
vs 26 nonstops in Springfield
cities that play in grand rapids's register:
