What is the cost of living in Flint, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Flint has an overall cost of living index of 78, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Flint has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Flint ranks as #3 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Flint ranks as the #176 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Flint, check out:
Flint Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Flint. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Flint is 99.
The Groceries index in Flint is 94.
The Health index in Flint is 34.
The Housing index in Flint is 93.
The Transportation index in Flint is 98.
The Utilities index in Flint is 98.
| Living Expense | Flint | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 34 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Flint 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 Flint Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Flint, 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 Flint is $65,071.
The Median Rent in Flint is $915.
The Median Income in Flint is $37,646.
The Home Value To Income in Flint is 1.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Flint is 0.29x.
Flint, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Flint Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Flint Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Flint Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Flint Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Flint SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Flint
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Flint. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Burton, MI has a cost of living index of 86, 1.1x Flint.
Fenton, MI has a cost of living index of 95, 1.2x Flint.
Lapeer, MI has a cost of living index of 85, 1.1x Flint.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Flint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burton, MI | 29,500 | 86 | 1.1x |
| Fenton, MI | 11,906 | 95 | 1.2x |
| Lapeer, MI | 9,082 | 85 | 1.1x |
| Beecher, MI | 8,412 | 78 | 1.0x |
| Flushing, MI | 8,284 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Grand Blanc, MI | 7,987 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Lake Fenton, MI | 6,417 | 106 | 1.4x |
| Holly, MI | 5,964 | 90 | 1.2x |
| Swartz Creek, MI | 5,853 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Davison, MI | 5,076 | 90 | 1.2x |
