Royal Oak, MI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Royal Oak, MI Summary

Cost of living in Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak is 107, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Royal Oak is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Royal Oak ranks as the #154 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Royal Oak ranks as the #3,374 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Royal Oak is $325,624.

  • The median income in Royal Oak is $95,182.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
107
Royal Oak's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

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 90.

The standard of living in Royal Oak ranks as #154 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Royal Oak ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Royal Oak, check out:

154 out of 180
In Michigan
3,374 out of 6,489
In America

Royal Oak Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

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

  • The Services index in Royal Oak is 103.

  • The Groceries index in Royal Oak is 102.

  • The Health index in Royal Oak is 100.

  • The Housing index in Royal Oak is 126.

  • The Transportation index in Royal Oak is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Royal Oak is 92.

Living Expense Royal Oak Michigan National Average
Overall 107 90 100
Services 103 93 100
Groceries 102 97 100
Health 100 91 100
Housing 126 72 100
Transportation 101 96 100
Utilities 92 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Royal Oak Cost of Living Vs. MI

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Royal Oak is $325,624.

  • The Median Rent in Royal Oak is $1,335.

  • The Median Income in Royal Oak is $95,182.

  • The Home Value To Income in Royal Oak is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Royal Oak is 0.17x.

Statistic Royal Oak Michigan United States
Median Home Value $325,624 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $1,335 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $95,182 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.18x 0.21x
$325,624
Median Home Value
$1,335
Median Rent
$95,182
Median Income

Royal Oak, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Royal Oak Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Royal Oak Michigan
Optometrist $85.0 $125.68
Doctor $103.33 $135.78
Dentist $91.0 $113.29

Detailed Royal Oak Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Royal Oak Michigan
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.0 $59.92

Detailed Royal Oak Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Royal Oak Michigan
All Electricity $219.2 $193.99
Phone $184.44 $192.25

Royal Oak SnackAbility

10
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
8.5
Amenities
9.5
Education
9.5
Commute
7

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 120, 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 118, 1.1x Royal Oak.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Royal Oak
Troy, MI 87,307 120 1.1x
Rochester Hills, MI 76,086 118 1.1x
Novi, MI 66,224 118 1.1x
Oak Park, MI 29,370 96 0.9x
Madison Heights, MI 28,411 97 0.9x
Birmingham, MI 21,612 149 1.4x
Ferndale, MI 19,156 101 0.9x
Berkley, MI 15,084 108 1.0x
Hazel Park, MI 14,945 90 0.8x
Clawson, MI 11,314 99 0.9x

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