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 91.
The standard of living in Ferndale ranks as #140 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Ferndale ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Ferndale, check out:
Ferndale Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ferndale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ferndale is 101.
The Groceries index in Ferndale is 97.
The Health index in Ferndale is 103.
The Housing index in Ferndale is 98.
The Transportation index in Ferndale is 98.
The Utilities index in Ferndale is 101.
| Living Expense | Ferndale | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 98 | 100 |
Ferndale 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 Ferndale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Ferndale is $250,327.
The Median Rent in Ferndale is $1,311.
The Median Income in Ferndale is $94,640.
The Home Value To Income in Ferndale is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ferndale is 0.17x.
Ferndale, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Ferndale Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Ferndale Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Ferndale Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Ferndale Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Ferndale SnackAbility
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 114, 1.1x Ferndale.
Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.2x Ferndale.
Novi, MI has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Ferndale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ferndale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy, MI | 87,898 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 118 | 1.2x |
| Novi, MI | 66,717 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Oak Park, MI | 29,318 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Madison Heights, MI | 28,419 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | 146 | 1.4x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,149 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Hazel Park, MI | 14,963 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Clawson, MI | 11,374 | 101 | 1.0x |








