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 79, 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 91.
The standard of living in Saginaw ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Saginaw ranks as the #173 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Saginaw, check out:
Saginaw Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Saginaw. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Saginaw is 95.
The Groceries index in Saginaw is 94.
The Health index in Saginaw is 42.
The Housing index in Saginaw is 100.
The Transportation index in Saginaw is 102.
The Utilities index in Saginaw is 94.
| Living Expense | Saginaw | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 42 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 98 | 100 |
Saginaw 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 Saginaw Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Saginaw is $128,097.
The Median Rent in Saginaw is $922.
The Median Income in Saginaw is $38,579.
The Home Value To Income in Saginaw is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Saginaw is 0.29x.
Saginaw, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Saginaw Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Saginaw Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Saginaw Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Saginaw Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Saginaw SnackAbility
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 92, 1.2x Saginaw.
Freeland, MI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.2x Saginaw.
Shields, MI has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Saginaw.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Saginaw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | 42,724 | 92 | 1.2x |
| Freeland, MI | 7,557 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Shields, MI | 7,402 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Bridgeport, MI | 6,884 | 80 | 1.0x |
| Buena Vista, MI | 5,798 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Frankenmuth, MI | 5,157 | 100 | 1.3x |
