Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Summerside, PE Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Summerside, PE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,130 in East Lansing, MI versus $1,836 in Summerside, PE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,101 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,699 in Summerside, PE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,072 in East Lansing, MI versus $3,563 in Summerside, PE.

Living in East Lansing, MI is roughly 16% more expensive than in Summerside, PE, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: East Lansing, MI 59% above, Summerside, PE 37% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 $13.05

$18.54 CA$25.99

-29.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.3 $65.3

$56.6 CA$79.3

15.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$10.15 CA$14.24

-1.77%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$3.76 CA$5.27

20.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.68 CA$2.36

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.61 CA$2.26

-16.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.20 CA$7.29

-5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.72 CA$8.02

-12.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$2.28 CA$3.19

-64.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.81 CA$3.94

1.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.64 CA$6.50

-10.13%

Eggs

$2.48 $2.48

$3.96 CA$5.56

-37.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$8.37 CA$11.73

47.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.28 $11.28

$9.31 CA$13.05

21.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.16 $15.16

$9.78 CA$13.71

55.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$5.18 CA$7.26

-27.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.69 CA$2.37

4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.60 CA$5.05

-8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.93 CA$5.51

-6.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.98 CA$4.18

-24.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.59 CA$3.63

-22.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.65 CA$3.71

-16.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.13 CA$2.99

2.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$14.31 CA$20.06

-30.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$11.93 CA$16.73

36.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.78 CA$5.30

-53.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.77 CA$5.28

-59.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.51 CA$2.12

9.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.2 $50.2

$48.75 CA$68.4

2.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.72 CA$5.21

-31.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.05 CA$2.87

-29.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.24 $39.24

$22.30 CA$31.26

75.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.21 CA$1.70

-33.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K $29.0K

$24.7K CA$34.7K

17.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$21.1K CA$29.6K

22.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$176 $176

$118 CA$165

49.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.74 $48.74

$50.5 CA$70.7

-3.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$69.7 CA$97.8

-8.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.20 $36.20

$32.27 CA$45.25

12.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.11 CA$15.58

34.20%

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 $11.30

$11.02 CA$15.45

2.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,486 $1,486

$653 CA$916

127.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$15.2K CA$21.2K

-6.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.93 $43.93

$66.5 CA$93.2

-33.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.01 $37.01

$26.07 CA$36.55

41.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 $69.1

$76.5 CA$107

-9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.4 $65.4

$71.2 CA$99.8

-8.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,210 $1,210

$938 CA$1,315

28.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 $1,085

$758 CA$1,062

43.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 $2,057

$1,735 CA$2,432

18.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 $1,654

$1,065 CA$1,494

55.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,042 $2,042

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,610 $1,610

$1,148 CA$1,609

40.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,030 $6,030

$2,385 CA$3,344

152.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

5.77

12.82%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for East Lansing, MI: July 13, 2026

Last update for Summerside, PE: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,210 in East Lansing, MI and $938 in Summerside, PE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

East Lansing, MI pays 153% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in East Lansing, MI vs $57.0 in Summerside, PE. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $357, with East Lansing, MI cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

East Lansing, MI vs Summerside, PE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Lansing, MI and Summerside, PE differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($2,130 vs $1,836 including rent). Summerside, PE is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 153% higher in East Lansing, MI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,210 in East Lansing, MI versus $938 in Summerside, PE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,130 per month in East Lansing, MI versus $1,836 in Summerside, PE – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Summerside, PE runs roughly 3% less than in East Lansing, MI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,836 in Summerside, PE versus $2,130 in East Lansing, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Summerside, PE but tight or insufficient in East Lansing, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Summerside, PE the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, East Lansing, MI and Summerside, PE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Summerside, PE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in East Lansing, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.