Shields, MI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Shields, MI Summary

Cost of living in Shields 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 Shields 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 Shields is 95, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Shields is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Shields ranks as the #102 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Shields ranks as the #1,954 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Shields is $205,986.

  • The median income in Shields is $83,986.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
95
Shields's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Shields, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Shields has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Shields has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Shields ranks as #102 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Shields ranks as the #78 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Shields, check out:

102 out of 180
In Michigan
1,954 out of 6,489
In America

Shields Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

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

  • The Services index in Shields is 104.

  • The Groceries index in Shields is 105.

  • The Health index in Shields is 103.

  • The Housing index in Shields is 85.

  • The Transportation index in Shields is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Shields is 93.

Living Expense Shields Michigan National Average
Overall 95 90 100
Services 104 93 100
Groceries 105 97 100
Health 103 91 100
Housing 85 72 100
Transportation 102 96 100
Utilities 93 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Shields Cost of Living Vs. MI

Shields, 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 Shields is $205,986.

  • The Median Rent in Shields is $937.

  • The Median Income in Shields is $83,986.

  • The Home Value To Income in Shields is 2.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Shields is 0.13x.

Statistic Shields Michigan United States
Median Home Value $205,986 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $937 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $83,986 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.5x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.13x 0.18x 0.21x
$205,986
Median Home Value
$937
Median Rent
$83,986
Median Income

Shields, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Shields Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Shields 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 Shields Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Shields 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 Shields Health Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Detailed Shields Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Detailed Shields Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Shields SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
7
Affordability
9
Diversity
4
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Shields

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

  • Saginaw, MI has a cost of living index of 82, 0.9x Shields.

  • Midland, MI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Shields.

  • Freeland, MI has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Shields.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Shields
Saginaw, MI 43,879 82 0.9x
Midland, MI 42,461 97 1.0x
Freeland, MI 7,562 100 1.1x
Bridgeport, MI 6,841 85 0.9x
Buena Vista, MI 5,904 84 0.9x

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