Average Cost Of Living In Michigan And Breakdown By City
UPDATED: May 19, 2023
When you’re deciding where you should live, you may notice that Michigan is a great – and affordable – settling place.
Sand dunes leading into the Great Lakes, incredible wooded trails, vibrant urban centers and epic sunsets are hard to put a dollar value on, but there are a number of other categories we can monetize and review to show you why it might make financial sense to move to Michigan.
Cost Of Living Defined
To put it simply, cost of living is the amount of money needed to cover basic expenses such as housing, food and health care in a certain place and time period. Let’s summarize and explain the key factors that go into determining cost of living.
- Housing: How expensive the average home costs, what most people pay for monthly rent, property taxes, etc.
- Groceries: The average cost of a number of grocery staples (coffee, sugar, bread, potatoes, etc.).
- Health: The average costs of health care services as well as the availability of those services.
- Transportation: Access to affordable public and private transportation.
Average Cost Of Living In Michigan
Keep in mind that the cost of living index we’re discussing is based on a national average score of 100. The Great Lakes State has a pretty low cost of living overall, coming in at 89.6, which means the cost of living in Michigan is around 11% below the national average.
The Stats:
- Median home price: $207,800
- Median household income: $49,087
- Groceries: 93.4 cost of living index score
- Health: 86 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 115.1 cost of living index score
Annual Cost Of Living In Michigan By City
Now that you have a snapshot of the state, let’s take a closer look at some of the top real estate cities in Michigan to give you an overview of the median income, how much you’ll need to buy a house and much more.
Ann Arbor
Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is one of Michigan’s most desirable cities. In fact, it’s often mentioned on lists compiling the best places to live in the country.
- Overall cost of living score: 117.5
- Median home price: $418,300
- Median income: $56,835
- Groceries: 102.6 cost of living index score
- Health: 86 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 100.1 cost of living index score
Ann Arbor Real Estate Listings
Detroit
The largest city in Michigan sits on the Detroit River and represents a buzzing metropolis full of action. Known for its rich musical and automotive history, Detroit is often referred to as The Motor City or Motown.
- Overall cost of living score: 87.6
- Median home price: $68,600
- Median income: $26,095
- Groceries: 89 cost of living index score
- Health: 84.3 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 178.3 cost of living index score
West Bloomfield
Located in southeast Michigan, West Bloomfield is sometimes referred to as the “lake township of Oakland County” due to its abundance of small and medium-sized lakes.
- Overall cost of living score: 116.5
- Median home price: $369,900
- Median income: $90,317
- Groceries: 100.5 cost of living index score
- Health: 81.4 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 125 cost of living index score
West Bloomfield Real Estate Listings
Grand Rapids
The second-largest city in Michigan, Grand Rapids is located in the west central part of the state, roughly 30 miles east of Lake Michigan.
- Overall cost of living score: 87.8
- Median home Price: $228,000
- Median Income: $39,913
- Groceries: 95.2 cost of living index score
- Health: 83.4 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 95.1 cost of living index score
Grand Rapids Real Estate Listings
Royal Oak
Developed as a suburb of Detroit in the early 20th century following Detroit's booming growth in the auto industry, Royal Oak is often referred to as “the city of trees.”
- Overall cost of living score: 104.6
- Median home price: $284,700
- Median income: $64,873
- Groceries: 98.4 cost of living index score
- Health: 81.4 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 113.9 cost of living index score
Royal Oak Real Estate Listings
Holland
Situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, tulips and sandy beaches contribute to Holland’s small-town charm.
- Overall cost of living score: 90.6
- Median home price: $263,400
- Median income: $44,619
- Groceries: 95.6 cost of living index score
- Health: 87.1 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 87.8 cost of living index score
Dearborn
Considered part of the Detroit metropolitan area, Dearborn is the eighth-largest city in the state.
- Overall cost of living score: 94.6
- Median home price: $184,400
- Median Income: $46,776
- Groceries: 95.1 cost of living index score
- Health: 84.3 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 149.7 cost of living index score
Canton
Known as the Sweet Corn Capitol of Michigan, Canton is nestled equidistant between Detroit and Ann Arbor.
- Overall cost of living score: 108.1
- Median home price: $331,300
- Median income: $82,243
- Groceries: 99.2 cost of living index score
- Health: 84.3 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 125.8 cost of living index score
Lansing
Home to the state capitol, Lansing is situated on the banks of Michigan’s Grand River.
- Overall cost of living score: 76.5
- Median home price: $125,300
- Median income: $35,675
- Groceries: 91.1 cost of living index score
- Health: 83.6 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 94.8 cost of living index score
Sterling Heights
With a dense suburban feel, Sterling Heights is the second largest suburb in Metro Detroit and the fourth-largest city in Michigan.
- Overall cost of living score: 101.4
- Median home price: $262,600
- Median income: $58,800
- Groceries: 96.9 cost of living index score
- Health: 82.1 cost of living index score
- Transportation: 132.3 cost of living index score
Sterling Heights Real Estate Listings
The Bottom Line
To sum it up, the Great Lakes State is a great place to live when it comes to cost of living. We can see why the overall population is going up year after year in each city. Looking to relocate to Michigan? You can start your search by working with a Rocket HomesSM Verified Partner Agent today.
Carey Chesney
Carey Chesney is a Realtor® and freelance writer that brings a wealth of experience as a former Marketing Executive in the fields of Health Care, Finance and Wellness. Carey received his Bachelor's in English at University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Masters in Integrated Marketing & Communications at Eastern Michigan University. You can connect with Carey at https://www.linkedin.com/in/careychesney/.
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