What is the cost of living in Melvindale, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Melvindale has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Melvindale has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Melvindale ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Melvindale ranks as the #153 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Melvindale, check out:
Melvindale Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Melvindale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Melvindale is 102.
The Groceries index in Melvindale is 96.
The Health index in Melvindale is 59.
The Housing index in Melvindale is 96.
The Transportation index in Melvindale is 101.
The Utilities index in Melvindale is 101.
| Living Expense | Melvindale | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 98 | 100 |
Melvindale 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 Melvindale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Melvindale, 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 Melvindale is $139,401.
The Median Rent in Melvindale is $1,110.
The Median Income in Melvindale is $42,185.
The Home Value To Income in Melvindale is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Melvindale is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Melvindale | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $139,401 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,110 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,185 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Melvindale, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Melvindale Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Melvindale | 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 Melvindale Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Melvindale | 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 Melvindale Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Melvindale | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $85.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Melvindale Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Melvindale | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Melvindale Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Melvindale | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
Melvindale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Melvindale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Melvindale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dearborn, MI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.2x Melvindale.
Livonia, MI has a cost of living index of 101, 1.2x Melvindale.
Taylor, MI has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Melvindale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Melvindale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn, MI | 107,423 | 97 | 1.2x |
| Livonia, MI | 93,851 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Taylor, MI | 62,081 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Dearborn Heights, MI | 61,771 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Lincoln Park, MI | 39,257 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Southgate, MI | 29,366 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Allen Park, MI | 27,925 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Inkster, MI | 25,428 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Wyandotte, MI | 24,489 | 88 | 1.0x |
