What is the cost of living in Fair Plain, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fair Plain has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Fair Plain has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Fair Plain ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Fair Plain ranks as the #145 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Fair Plain, check out:
Fair Plain Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fair Plain. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fair Plain is 97.
The Groceries index in Fair Plain is 99.
The Health index in Fair Plain is 67.
The Housing index in Fair Plain is 94.
The Transportation index in Fair Plain is 97.
The Utilities index in Fair Plain is 93.
| Living Expense | Fair Plain | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 98 | 100 |
Fair Plain 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 Fair Plain Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fair Plain, 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 Fair Plain is $190,068.
The Median Rent in Fair Plain is $1,019.
The Median Income in Fair Plain is $52,817.
The Home Value To Income in Fair Plain is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fair Plain is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Fair Plain | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $190,068 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,019 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,817 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Fair Plain, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Fair Plain Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Fair Plain | 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 Fair Plain Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Fair Plain | 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 Fair Plain Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Fair Plain | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $74.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $121.31 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fair Plain Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Fair Plain | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.56 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fair Plain Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Fair Plain | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $205.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
Fair Plain SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fair Plain
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fair Plain. 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 96, 1.1x Fair Plain.
Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Fair Plain.
Granger, IN has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Fair Plain.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fair Plain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage, MI | 49,259 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Goshen, IN | 34,420 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Granger, IN | 30,321 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Chesterton, IN | 14,446 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Benton Harbor, MI | 8,953 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Westwood, MI | 8,867 | 94 | 1.1x |
| St. Joseph, MI | 7,986 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Nappanee, IN | 6,815 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Eastwood, MI | 6,669 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Dunlap, IN | 6,109 | 93 | 1.1x |
