Ferndale, MI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Ferndale, MI Summary

Cost of living in Ferndale 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 Ferndale 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 Ferndale is 101, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Ferndale is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Ferndale ranks as the #143 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Ferndale ranks as the #2,735 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Ferndale is $251,608.

  • The median income in Ferndale is $91,732.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
101
Ferndale's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Ferndale, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ferndale has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Ferndale has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Ferndale ranks as #143 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Ferndale ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Ferndale, check out:

143 out of 180
In Michigan
2,735 out of 6,489
In America

Ferndale Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

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

  • The Services index in Ferndale is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Ferndale is 102.

  • The Health index in Ferndale is 102.

  • The Housing index in Ferndale is 101.

  • The Transportation index in Ferndale is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Ferndale is 95.

Living Expense Ferndale Michigan National Average
Overall 101 90 100
Services 102 93 100
Groceries 102 97 100
Health 102 91 100
Housing 101 72 100
Transportation 98 96 100
Utilities 95 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Ferndale Cost of Living Vs. MI

Ferndale, 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 Ferndale is $251,608.

  • The Median Rent in Ferndale is $1,235.

  • The Median Income in Ferndale is $91,732.

  • The Home Value To Income in Ferndale is 2.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Ferndale is 0.16x.

Statistic Ferndale Michigan United States
Median Home Value $251,608 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $1,235 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $91,732 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.7x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.18x 0.21x
$251,608
Median Home Value
$1,235
Median Rent
$91,732
Median Income

Ferndale, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Ferndale Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Ferndale 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 Ferndale Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Ferndale 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 Ferndale Health Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Detailed Ferndale Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Ferndale Michigan
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.0 $59.92

Detailed Ferndale Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Ferndale Michigan
All Electricity $219.2 $193.99
Phone $184.44 $192.25

Ferndale SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
7
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
7

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ferndale

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

  • Troy, MI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x Ferndale.

  • Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.2x Ferndale.

  • Novi, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.2x Ferndale.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Ferndale
Troy, MI 87,307 120 1.2x
Rochester Hills, MI 76,086 118 1.2x
Novi, MI 66,224 118 1.2x
Royal Oak, MI 57,880 107 1.1x
Oak Park, MI 29,370 96 1.0x
Madison Heights, MI 28,411 97 1.0x
Birmingham, MI 21,612 149 1.5x
Berkley, MI 15,084 108 1.1x
Hazel Park, MI 14,945 90 0.9x
Clawson, MI 11,314 99 1.0x

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