Detroit, MI Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Detroit, MI Summary
Cost of living in Detroit 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 Detroit 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 Detroit is 85, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Detroit is 0.8x lower than the national average.
Detroit ranks as the #41 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.
Detroit ranks as the #511 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Detroit is $78,806.
The median income in Detroit is $39,575.
Table Of Contents
Detroit's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Detroit, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Detroit has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Detroit has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 90.
The standard of living in Detroit ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Detroit ranks as the #139 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Detroit, check out:
In Michigan
In America
Detroit Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Detroit. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Detroit is 102.
The Groceries index in Detroit is 104.
The Health index in Detroit is 102.
The Housing index in Detroit is 47.
The Transportation index in Detroit is 102.
The Utilities index in Detroit is 93.
| Living Expense | Detroit | Michigan | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 102 | 93 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 104 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 102 | 91 | 100 | |
| Housing | 47 | 72 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 102 | 96 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 93 | 99 | 100 | |
Detroit, 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 Detroit is $78,806.
The Median Rent in Detroit is $1,034.
The Median Income in Detroit is $39,575.
The Home Value To Income in Detroit is 2.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Detroit is 0.31x.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Detroit, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Detroit Services Costs Vs. Michigan
Detailed Detroit Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan
Detailed Detroit Health Costs Vs. Michigan
Detailed Detroit Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan
Detailed Detroit Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan
Detroit SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Detroit
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Detroit. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dearborn, MI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.2x Detroit.
Livonia, MI has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Detroit.
Troy, MI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.4x Detroit.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn, MI | 107,846 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Livonia, MI | 94,058 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Troy, MI | 87,307 | 120 | 1.4x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 76,086 | 118 | 1.4x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,880 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Oak Park, MI | 29,370 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Hamtramck, MI | 27,830 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,612 | 149 | 1.8x |
| Ferndale, MI | 19,156 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,084 | 108 | 1.3x |
