What is the cost of living in Pontiac, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pontiac has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Pontiac has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Pontiac ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Pontiac ranks as the #145 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Pontiac, check out:
Pontiac Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pontiac. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pontiac is 97.
The Groceries index in Pontiac is 98.
The Health index in Pontiac is 54.
The Housing index in Pontiac is 93.
The Transportation index in Pontiac is 103.
The Utilities index in Pontiac is 92.
| Living Expense | Pontiac | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 54 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 98 | 100 |
Pontiac 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 Pontiac Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pontiac, 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 Pontiac is $137,921.
The Median Rent in Pontiac is $1,063.
The Median Income in Pontiac is $44,329.
The Home Value To Income in Pontiac is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pontiac is 0.29x.
Pontiac, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Pontiac Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Pontiac Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Pontiac Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Pontiac Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Pontiac SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pontiac
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pontiac. 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, 1.3x Pontiac.
Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.4x Pontiac.
Novi, MI has a cost of living index of 116, 1.4x Pontiac.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pontiac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy, MI | 87,898 | 114 | 1.3x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 118 | 1.4x |
| Novi, MI | 66,717 | 116 | 1.4x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Auburn Hills, MI | 25,105 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | 146 | 1.7x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,149 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Rochester, MI | 12,934 | 124 | 1.5x |
| Clawson, MI | 11,374 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Huntington Woods, MI | 6,328 | 132 | 1.6x |
