Buena Vista, MI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Buena Vista, MI Summary

Cost of living in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista is 84, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Buena Vista is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Buena Vista ranks as the #32 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Buena Vista ranks as the #406 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Buena Vista is $61,570.

  • The median income in Buena Vista is $38,835.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
84
Buena Vista's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Buena Vista, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Buena Vista has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Buena Vista has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Buena Vista ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Buena Vista ranks as the #148 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Buena Vista, check out:

32 out of 180
In Michigan
406 out of 6,489
In America

Buena Vista Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buena Vista. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Buena Vista is 104.

  • The Groceries index in Buena Vista is 103.

  • The Health index in Buena Vista is 102.

  • The Housing index in Buena Vista is 44.

  • The Transportation index in Buena Vista is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Buena Vista is 95.

Living Expense Buena Vista Michigan National Average
Overall 84 90 100
Services 104 93 100
Groceries 103 97 100
Health 102 91 100
Housing 44 72 100
Transportation 101 96 100
Utilities 95 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Buena Vista Cost of Living Vs. MI

Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista is $61,570.

  • The Median Rent in Buena Vista is $875.

  • The Median Income in Buena Vista is $38,835.

  • The Home Value To Income in Buena Vista is 1.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Buena Vista is 0.27x.

Statistic Buena Vista Michigan United States
Median Home Value $61,570 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $875 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $38,835 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 1.6x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.27x 0.18x 0.21x
$61,570
Median Home Value
$875
Median Rent
$38,835
Median Income

Buena Vista, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Buena Vista Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Buena Vista Michigan
Shampoo $1.13 $1.28
Movie $12.99 $12.13
Bowling $12.33 $18
Haircut $16.8 $24.26
Beauty Salon $24.78 $45.56

Detailed Buena Vista Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Buena Vista Michigan
Ground Beef $5.75 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.78 $4.67
Potatoes $4.8 $4.93
Pizza $8.99 $12.09
Beer $9.04 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.66 $3.7

Detailed Buena Vista Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Buena Vista Michigan
Optometrist $85.0 $125.68
Doctor $103.33 $135.78
Dentist $91.0 $113.29

Detailed Buena Vista Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Buena Vista Michigan
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.0 $59.92

Detailed Buena Vista Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Buena Vista Michigan
All Electricity $219.2 $193.99
Phone $184.44 $192.25

Buena Vista SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
4
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Buena Vista

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Buena Vista. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Saginaw, MI has a cost of living index of 82, 1.0x Buena Vista.

  • Midland, MI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.2x Buena Vista.

  • Burton, MI has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Buena Vista.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Buena Vista
Saginaw, MI 43,879 82 1.0x
Midland, MI 42,461 97 1.2x
Burton, MI 29,529 90 1.1x
Mount Pleasant, MI 21,420 88 1.0x
Flushing, MI 8,323 91 1.1x
Grand Blanc, MI 7,995 99 1.2x
St. Johns, MI 7,712 87 1.0x
Freeland, MI 7,562 100 1.2x
Shields, MI 7,276 95 1.1x
Bridgeport, MI 6,841 85 1.0x

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