Saginaw, MI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Saginaw, MI Summary

Cost of living in Saginaw 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 Saginaw 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 Saginaw is 82, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Saginaw is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Saginaw ranks as the #17 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Saginaw ranks as the #221 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Saginaw is $125,330.

  • The median income in Saginaw is $37,298.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
82
Saginaw's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Saginaw, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Saginaw has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Saginaw has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Saginaw ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Saginaw ranks as the #163 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Saginaw, check out:

17 out of 180
In Michigan
221 out of 6,489
In America

Saginaw Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

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

  • The Services index in Saginaw is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Saginaw is 102.

  • The Health index in Saginaw is 103.

  • The Housing index in Saginaw is 40.

  • The Transportation index in Saginaw is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Saginaw is 96.

Living Expense Saginaw Michigan National Average
Overall 82 90 100
Services 100 93 100
Groceries 102 97 100
Health 103 91 100
Housing 40 72 100
Transportation 101 96 100
Utilities 96 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Saginaw Cost of Living Vs. MI

Saginaw, 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 Saginaw is $125,330.

  • The Median Rent in Saginaw is $909.

  • The Median Income in Saginaw is $37,298.

  • The Home Value To Income in Saginaw is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Saginaw is 0.29x.

Statistic Saginaw Michigan United States
Median Home Value $125,330 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $909 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $37,298 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.29x 0.18x 0.21x
$125,330
Median Home Value
$909
Median Rent
$37,298
Median Income

Saginaw, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Saginaw Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Saginaw 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 Saginaw Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Saginaw 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 Saginaw Health Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Detailed Saginaw Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Saginaw Michigan
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.0 $59.92

Detailed Saginaw Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Saginaw Michigan
All Electricity $219.2 $193.99
Phone $184.44 $192.25

Saginaw SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8
Diversity
9.5
Safety
5
Amenities
9
Education
4
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Saginaw

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

  • Midland, MI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.2x Saginaw.

  • Freeland, MI has a cost of living index of 100, 1.2x Saginaw.

  • Shields, MI has a cost of living index of 95, 1.2x Saginaw.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Saginaw
Midland, MI 42,461 97 1.2x
Freeland, MI 7,562 100 1.2x
Shields, MI 7,276 95 1.2x
Bridgeport, MI 6,841 85 1.0x
Buena Vista, MI 5,904 84 1.0x
Frankenmuth, MI 5,108 103 1.3x

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