City Comparison

Lansing vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lansing

Michigan
84
Very Affordable
$158,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$54,400
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

25.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 25.7%, with Lansing being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Lansing has equivalent purchasing power to $100,893 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
53
Lansing
187
Roswell
Groceries
89
Lansing
101
Roswell
Utilities
104
Lansing
98
Roswell
Transportation
111
Lansing
110
Roswell
Healthcare
93
Lansing
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lansing has the same purchasing power as $100,893 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $55,752 in Lansing.

Living in Lansing vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Lansing's housing index of 53 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $158,000 vs $647,000. The $489,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,788 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Lansing compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 89 in Lansing and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $423/month in Lansing vs $480/month in Roswell. Lansing offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 104 in Lansing and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $416 in Lansing vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Lansing and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $54,400 in Lansing and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,762 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,269/month to housing in Lansing vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Lansing, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 134 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lansing is 25.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Lansing has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $100,893 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Lansing's housing index is 53 with median homes at $158,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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