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 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Shields has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Shields ranks as #71 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Shields ranks as the #108 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Shields, check out:
Shields Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Shields. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Shields is 94.
The Groceries index in Shields is 93.
The Health index in Shields is 86.
The Housing index in Shields is 99.
The Transportation index in Shields is 103.
The Utilities index in Shields is 94.
| Living Expense | Shields | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 86 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 98 | 100 |
Shields 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 Shields Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Shields is $195,790.
The Median Rent in Shields is $941.
The Median Income in Shields is $82,125.
The Home Value To Income in Shields is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Shields is 0.14x.
Shields, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Shields Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Shields Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Shields Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Shields Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Shields SnackAbility
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 79, 0.9x Shields.
Midland, MI has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Shields.
Freeland, MI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Shields.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Shields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 43,536 | 79 | 0.9x |
| Midland, MI | 42,724 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Freeland, MI | 7,557 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Bridgeport, MI | 6,884 | 80 | 0.9x |
| Buena Vista, MI | 5,798 | 82 | 0.9x |
