What is the cost of living in Forest Hills, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest Hills has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Forest Hills has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Forest Hills ranks as #170 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Forest Hills ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Forest Hills, check out:
Forest Hills Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest Hills. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest Hills is 98.
The Groceries index in Forest Hills is 99.
The Health index in Forest Hills is 172.
The Housing index in Forest Hills is 97.
The Transportation index in Forest Hills is 102.
The Utilities index in Forest Hills is 98.
| Living Expense | Forest Hills | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 172 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forest Hills, 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 Forest Hills is $559,320.
The Median Rent in Forest Hills is $1,958.
The Median Income in Forest Hills is $158,005.
The Home Value To Income in Forest Hills is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest Hills is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Forest Hills | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $559,320 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,958 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $158,005 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Forest Hills, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Hills Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Forest Hills | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.22 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.53 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Forest Hills Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Forest Hills | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.51 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.69 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.84 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.38 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Forest Hills Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Forest Hills | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $91.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.35 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forest Hills Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Forest Hills | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.57 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forest Hills Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Forest Hills | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.98 | $192.25 |
Forest Hills SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest Hills
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest Hills. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Grand Rapids, MI has a cost of living index of 98, 0.8x Forest Hills.
Wyoming, MI has a cost of living index of 92, 0.8x Forest Hills.
Kentwood, MI has a cost of living index of 94, 0.8x Forest Hills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI | 198,535 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Wyoming, MI | 77,353 | 92 | 0.8x |
| Kentwood, MI | 54,296 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Cutlerville, MI | 18,780 | 96 | 0.8x |
| Jenison, MI | 17,582 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Grandville, MI | 16,356 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Northview, MI | 15,268 | 100 | 0.8x |
| East Grand Rapids, MI | 11,445 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Comstock Park, MI | 10,577 | 93 | 0.8x |
| Hudsonville, MI | 7,769 | 95 | 0.8x |
