What is the cost of living in Houghton Lake, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Houghton Lake has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Houghton Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Houghton Lake ranks as #56 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Houghton Lake ranks as the #123 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Houghton Lake, check out:
Houghton Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Houghton Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Houghton Lake is 100.
The Groceries index in Houghton Lake is 97.
The Health index in Houghton Lake is 66.
The Housing index in Houghton Lake is 92.
The Transportation index in Houghton Lake is 99.
The Utilities index in Houghton Lake is 95.
| Living Expense | Houghton Lake | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 92 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 98 | 100 |
Houghton Lake 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 Houghton Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Houghton Lake, 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 Houghton Lake is $193,836.
The Median Rent in Houghton Lake is $827.
The Median Income in Houghton Lake is $50,305.
The Home Value To Income in Houghton Lake is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Houghton Lake is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Houghton Lake | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $193,836 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $827 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,305 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Houghton Lake, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Houghton Lake Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Houghton Lake | 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 Houghton Lake Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Houghton Lake | 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 Houghton Lake Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Houghton Lake | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $91.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.14 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.35 | $113.29 |
Detailed Houghton Lake Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Houghton Lake | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.57 | $59.92 |
Detailed Houghton Lake Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Houghton Lake | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.98 | $192.25 |
Houghton Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Houghton Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Houghton Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mount Pleasant, MI has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Houghton Lake.
Cadillac, MI has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Houghton Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Houghton Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 21,236 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Cadillac, MI | 10,445 | 86 | 1.0x |
