What is the cost of living in Royal Oak, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Royal Oak has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Royal Oak has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Royal Oak ranks as #156 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Royal Oak ranks as the #23 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Royal Oak, check out:
Royal Oak Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Royal Oak. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Royal Oak is 98.
The Groceries index in Royal Oak is 95.
The Health index in Royal Oak is 123.
The Housing index in Royal Oak is 100.
The Transportation index in Royal Oak is 98.
The Utilities index in Royal Oak is 98.
| Living Expense | Royal Oak | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 123 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Royal Oak, 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 Royal Oak is $331,358.
The Median Rent in Royal Oak is $1,381.
The Median Income in Royal Oak is $101,109.
The Home Value To Income in Royal Oak is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Royal Oak is 0.16x.
Royal Oak, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Royal Oak Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Royal Oak Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Royal Oak Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Royal Oak Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Royal Oak SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Royal Oak
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Royal Oak. 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, 1.1x Royal Oak.
Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.1x Royal Oak.
Novi, MI has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Royal Oak.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Royal Oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy, MI | 87,898 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Novi, MI | 66,717 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Oak Park, MI | 29,318 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Madison Heights, MI | 28,419 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | 146 | 1.4x |
| Ferndale, MI | 19,190 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,149 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Hazel Park, MI | 14,963 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Clawson, MI | 11,374 | 101 | 0.9x |
