What is the cost of living in River Rouge, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, River Rouge has an overall cost of living index of 77, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, River Rouge has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in River Rouge ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies River Rouge ranks as the #178 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in River Rouge, check out:
River Rouge Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in River Rouge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in River Rouge is 101.
The Groceries index in River Rouge is 97.
The Health index in River Rouge is 32.
The Housing index in River Rouge is 96.
The Transportation index in River Rouge is 103.
The Utilities index in River Rouge is 102.
| Living Expense | River Rouge | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 32 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 98 | 100 |
River Rouge 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 River Rouge Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
River Rouge, 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 River Rouge is $85,479.
The Median Rent in River Rouge is $839.
The Median Income in River Rouge is $41,053.
The Home Value To Income in River Rouge is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in River Rouge is 0.25x.
| Statistic | River Rouge | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $85,479 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $839 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,053 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
River Rouge, MI Costs By Category
Detailed River Rouge Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | River Rouge | 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 River Rouge Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | River Rouge | 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 River Rouge Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | River Rouge | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $85.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed River Rouge Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | River Rouge | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed River Rouge Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | River Rouge | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
River Rouge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around River Rouge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around River Rouge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Detroit, MI has a cost of living index of 83, 1.1x River Rouge.
Dearborn, MI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.3x River Rouge.
Livonia, MI has a cost of living index of 101, 1.3x River Rouge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. River Rouge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 638,530 | 83 | 1.1x |
| Dearborn, MI | 107,423 | 97 | 1.3x |
| Livonia, MI | 93,851 | 101 | 1.3x |
| Taylor, MI | 62,081 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 1.4x |
| Lincoln Park, MI | 39,257 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Southgate, MI | 29,366 | 94 | 1.2x |
| Allen Park, MI | 27,925 | 94 | 1.2x |
| Wyandotte, MI | 24,489 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | 146 | 1.9x |
