Portage, MI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Portage, MI Summary

Cost of living in Portage research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Portage is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Michigan, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Portage is 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Portage is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Portage ranks as the #96 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Portage ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Portage is $294,695.

  • The median income in Portage is $79,529.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Portage's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Portage, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Portage has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Portage has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Portage ranks as #96 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Portage ranks as the #84 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Portage, check out:

96 out of 180
In Michigan
1,806 out of 6,489
In America

Portage Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Portage. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Portage is 90.

  • The Groceries index in Portage is 96.

  • The Health index in Portage is 92.

  • The Housing index in Portage is 95.

  • The Transportation index in Portage is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Portage is 104.

Living Expense Portage Michigan National Average
Overall 94 90 100
Services 90 93 100
Groceries 96 97 100
Health 92 91 100
Housing 95 72 100
Transportation 96 96 100
Utilities 104 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Portage Cost of Living Vs. MI

Portage, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Portage is $294,695.

  • The Median Rent in Portage is $1,120.

  • The Median Income in Portage is $79,529.

  • The Home Value To Income in Portage is 3.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Portage is 0.17x.

Statistic Portage Michigan United States
Median Home Value $294,695 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $1,120 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $79,529 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.7x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.18x 0.21x
$294,695
Median Home Value
$1,120
Median Rent
$79,529
Median Income

Portage, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Portage Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Portage 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 Portage Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Portage 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 Portage Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Portage Michigan
Optometrist $91.4 $125.68
Doctor $139.14 $135.78
Dentist $120.35 $113.29

Detailed Portage Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Portage Michigan
Gasoline $3.42 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.57 $59.92

Detailed Portage Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Portage Michigan
All Electricity $180.47 $193.99
Phone $184.98 $192.25

Portage SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
7
Safety
6
Amenities
8.5
Education
9
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Portage

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Portage. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Kalamazoo, MI has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Portage.

  • Battle Creek, MI has a cost of living index of 81, 0.9x Portage.

  • Westwood, MI has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Portage.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Portage
Kalamazoo, MI 73,132 87 0.9x
Battle Creek, MI 52,392 81 0.9x
Westwood, MI 8,968 91 1.0x
Three Rivers, MI 7,936 82 0.9x
Eastwood, MI 6,704 82 0.9x
Comstock Northwest, MI 5,190 90 1.0x

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