Cost of Living in Michigan
Updated November 2026 · population 10,077,761
Michigan prices are 3.8% below the US average (index 96.2), ranking 28th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 82.3, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,414 a month.
Prices by category
Michigan price index by category, US average = 100: All items 96.2, Housing (rents) 82.3, Goods 96.0, Utilities 100.2, Other services 100.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Michigan (whole state) | 96.2 |
| Metropolitan areas of Michigan | 97.6 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Michigan | 89.0 |
Cities in Michigan
Select a column heading to sort.
| Detroit | 638,530 | 97.5 | $2,289 | $4,844 | $1,074 | $83,900 |
| Grand Rapids | 198,535 | 95.4 | $2,513 | $5,112 | $1,266 | $244,500 |
| Warren | 137,928 | 99.6 | $2,512 | $5,103 | $1,225 | $193,400 |
| Sterling Heights | 133,573 | 100.6 | $2,672 | $5,560 | $1,292 | $274,300 |
| Ann Arbor | 122,036 | 104.3 | $2,992 | $5,591 | $1,649 | $453,400 |
| Lansing | 113,023 | 93.3 | $2,312 | $4,828 | $993 | $128,700 |
| Dearborn | 107,423 | 101.0 | $2,416 | $5,191 | $1,327 | $218,800 |
| Livonia | 93,851 | 101.0 | $2,589 | $5,399 | $1,322 | $281,100 |
| Troy | 87,898 | 104.9 | $2,841 | $5,701 | $1,602 | $420,300 |
| Westland | 83,633 | 98.7 | $2,558 | $5,132 | $1,158 | $184,600 |
| Farmington Hills | 83,515 | 104.2 | $2,857 | $5,784 | $1,551 | $354,500 |
| Flint | 80,175 | 91.9 | $2,046 | $4,461 | $915 | $53,500 |
| Wyoming | 77,353 | 94.5 | $2,497 | $5,137 | $1,196 | $225,200 |
| Rochester Hills | 77,089 | 105.5 | $2,927 | $5,598 | $1,644 | $409,800 |
| Southfield | 76,236 | 101.2 | $2,714 | $5,436 | $1,340 | $236,200 |
| Kalamazoo | 73,076 | 94.1 | $2,441 | $4,924 | $1,078 | $179,000 |
| Novi | 66,717 | 106.9 | $2,950 | $6,048 | $1,747 | $421,900 |
| Pontiac | 62,104 | 97.4 | $2,373 | $4,988 | $1,063 | $121,700 |
| Taylor | 62,081 | 97.9 | $2,491 | $5,026 | $1,101 | $152,600 |
| Dearborn Heights | 61,771 | 101.1 | $2,580 | $5,150 | $1,331 | $185,100 |
| St. Clair Shores | 58,140 | 99.0 | $2,463 | $5,297 | $1,183 | $210,700 |
| Royal Oak | 57,950 | 101.8 | $2,753 | $5,827 | $1,381 | $328,700 |
| Kentwood | 54,296 | 95.3 | $2,583 | $5,086 | $1,260 | $268,200 |
| Battle Creek | 52,374 | 90.6 | $2,191 | $4,638 | $957 | $141,900 |
| Mackinac Island resort/outlier | 561 | 95.4 | $2,614 | $5,039 | $1,197 | $733,300 |
Metro areas in Michigan
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 100.9 | 125.3 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 100.3 | 94.7 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 95.5 | 86.6 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 95.0 | 83.5 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 94.8 | 81.6 |
| Monroe, MI | 93.5 | 74.6 |
| Traverse City, MI | 93.4 | 78.1 |
| Flint, MI | 93.0 | 74.0 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 92.9 | 74.6 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 92.5 | 74.2 |
| Niles, MI | 92.4 | 71.6 |
| Bay City, MI | 91.9 | 66.7 |
| Midland, MI | 91.9 | 66.7 |
| Jackson, MI | 91.8 | 67.1 |
| Saginaw, MI | 90.9 | 63.6 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 90.5 | 61.0 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Michigan.
Modelled monthly budget at Michigan average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Michigan (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $765 | $9,180 | 32% |
| Utilities | $251 | $3,012 | 10% |
| Food at home | $271 | $3,252 | 11% |
| Transportation | $609 | $7,308 | 25% |
| Health care | $355 | $4,260 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $163 | $1,956 | 7% |
| Total | $2,414 | $28,968 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Michigan (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $963 | $11,556 | 24% |
| Utilities | $400 | $4,800 | 10% |
| Food at home | $500 | $6,000 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,205 | $14,460 | 30% |
| Health care | $657 | $7,884 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $321 | $3,852 | 8% |
| Total | $4,046 | $48,552 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Michigan (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,095 | $13,140 | 22% |
| Utilities | $487 | $5,844 | 10% |
| Food at home | $713 | $8,556 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,603 | $19,236 | 33% |
| Health care | $613 | $7,356 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $413 | $4,956 | 8% |
| Total | $4,924 | $59,088 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
22.99¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +10.9% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 95.4 | 94.4 | 94.3 | 93.6 | 94.3 | 96.2 |
Change over the period: +0.9 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Michigan an expensive state to live in?
Michigan has a cost of living index of 96.2 (US = 100), 3.8% below the US average. It ranks 28th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 82.3 (rank 29), goods 96.0, utilities 100.2 and other services 100.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Michigan?
At Michigan state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,414 for a single adult, $4,046 for a couple and $4,924 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 97.6 and nonmetro areas 89.0.
What is the median rent and home value in Michigan?
The median gross rent in Michigan is $1,129 a month and the median home value is $231,600 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 30.2% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 26.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology