Grand Traverse County, MI at a glance
Median household income
$81,647$6,804 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Grand Traverse County, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Grand Traverse County, MI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Grand Traverse County, MI HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,136 | $13,632 | $45,440 | 16.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,143 | $13,716 | $45,720 | 16.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,357 | $16,284 | $54,280 | 19.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,747 | $20,964 | $69,880 | 25.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,797 | $21,564 | $71,880 | 26.4% |
Rent in Grand Traverse County, MI, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Grand Traverse County, MI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $81,647 a year ($6,804 a month before tax).
What $81,647 leaves after Michigan taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Michigan tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Michigan
Living in Grand Traverse County, MI: common questions
What is the median household income in Grand Traverse County, MI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Grand Traverse County, MI is $81,647 per year (approximately $6,804 per month).
What is the average rent in Grand Traverse County, MI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,136 for a studio, $1,143 for one bedroom, $1,357 for two, $1,747 for three and $1,797 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Grand Traverse County, MI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Grand Traverse County, MI?
To keep a $1,357 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $54,280 a year, or $4,523 a month. That is 66% of what the typical household in Grand Traverse County, MI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Grand Traverse County, MI?
On the local median income of $81,647 ($6,804 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,402 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,041 for everything else and $1,361 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,357 takes 40% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Grand Traverse County, MI?
Homes in Michigan paid 23¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $207. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.