What is the cost of living in Sault Ste. Marie, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sault Ste. Marie has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Sault Ste. Marie ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Sault Ste. Marie ranks as the #145 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Sault Ste. Marie, check out:
Sault Ste. Marie Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sault Ste. Marie. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sault Ste. Marie is 100.
The Groceries index in Sault Ste. Marie is 95.
The Health index in Sault Ste. Marie is 60.
The Housing index in Sault Ste. Marie is 93.
The Transportation index in Sault Ste. Marie is 100.
The Utilities index in Sault Ste. Marie is 97.
| Living Expense | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 60 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 98 | 100 |
Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sault Ste. Marie, 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 Sault Ste. Marie is $156,407.
The Median Rent in Sault Ste. Marie is $804.
The Median Income in Sault Ste. Marie is $55,328.
The Home Value To Income in Sault Ste. Marie is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sault Ste. Marie is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $156,407 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $804 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,328 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Sault Ste. Marie, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Sault Ste. Marie Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.24 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Sault Ste. Marie Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.1 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.35 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.54 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $8.87 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Sault Ste. Marie Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.75 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.9 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $104.06 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sault Ste. Marie Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.04 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sault Ste. Marie Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Sault Ste. Marie | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.4 | $192.25 |
