Benton Harbor, MI Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Benton Harbor, MI Summary
Cost of living in Benton Harbor research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Benton Harbor is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Michigan, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Benton Harbor is 78, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Benton Harbor is 0.8x lower than the national average.
Benton Harbor ranks as the #3 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.
Benton Harbor ranks as the #46 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Benton Harbor is $154,182.
The median income in Benton Harbor is $29,652.
Table Of Contents
Benton Harbor's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Benton Harbor, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Benton Harbor has an overall cost of living index of 78, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Benton Harbor has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 90.
The standard of living in Benton Harbor ranks as #3 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Benton Harbor ranks as the #177 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Benton Harbor, check out:
In Michigan
In America
Benton Harbor Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benton Harbor. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Benton Harbor is 86.
The Groceries index in Benton Harbor is 96.
The Health index in Benton Harbor is 82.
The Housing index in Benton Harbor is 42.
The Transportation index in Benton Harbor is 95.
The Utilities index in Benton Harbor is 108.
| Living Expense | Benton Harbor | Michigan | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 86 | 93 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 82 | 91 | 100 | |
| Housing | 42 | 72 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 95 | 96 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 108 | 99 | 100 | |
Benton Harbor, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Benton Harbor is $154,182.
The Median Rent in Benton Harbor is $775.
The Median Income in Benton Harbor is $29,652.
The Home Value To Income in Benton Harbor is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Benton Harbor is 0.31x.
| Statistic | Benton Harbor | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $154,182 | $258,642 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $775 | $1,084 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $29,652 | $71,149 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 3.6x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Benton Harbor, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Benton Harbor Services Costs Vs. Michigan
| Item | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.14 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.35 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $26.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed Benton Harbor Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan
| Item | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.62 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.65 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.58 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.14 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.06 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Benton Harbor Health Costs Vs. Michigan
| Item | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $74.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $121.31 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Benton Harbor Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan
| Item | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.56 | $59.92 |
Detailed Benton Harbor Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan
| Item | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $205.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
Benton Harbor SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Benton Harbor
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Benton Harbor. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Portage, MI has a cost of living index of 94, 1.2x Benton Harbor.
Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Benton Harbor.
Holland, MI has a cost of living index of 91, 1.2x Benton Harbor.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage, MI | 49,015 | 94 | 1.2x |
| Goshen, IN | 34,374 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Holland, MI | 34,266 | 91 | 1.2x |
| Granger, IN | 30,279 | 102 | 1.3x |
| Westwood, MI | 8,968 | 91 | 1.2x |
| St. Joseph, MI | 7,805 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Fair Plain, MI | 6,992 | 84 | 1.1x |
| Eastwood, MI | 6,704 | 82 | 1.1x |
| Dunlap, IN | 6,602 | 91 | 1.2x |
| Westville, IN | 5,291 | 86 | 1.1x |
