What is the cost of living in Alpena, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alpena has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Alpena has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Alpena ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Alpena ranks as the #153 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Alpena, check out:
Alpena Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alpena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alpena is 96.
The Groceries index in Alpena is 101.
The Health index in Alpena is 51.
The Housing index in Alpena is 97.
The Transportation index in Alpena is 101.
The Utilities index in Alpena is 94.
| Living Expense | Alpena | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 51 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 98 | 100 |
Alpena Cost Of Living Compared To Michigan Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alpena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alpena, MI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alpena is $187,286.
The Median Rent in Alpena is $625.
The Median Income in Alpena is $47,545.
The Home Value To Income in Alpena is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alpena is 0.16x.
Alpena, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Alpena Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Alpena Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Alpena Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Alpena Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Alpena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alpena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alpena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rogers, MN has a cost of living index of 124, 1.5x Alpena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alpena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers, MN | 13,685 | 124 | 1.5x |
