What is the cost of living in St. Clair Shores, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Clair Shores has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, St. Clair Shores has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in St. Clair Shores ranks as #98 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies St. Clair Shores ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in St. Clair Shores, check out:
St. Clair Shores Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Clair Shores. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Clair Shores is 96.
The Groceries index in St. Clair Shores is 93.
The Health index in St. Clair Shores is 84.
The Housing index in St. Clair Shores is 98.
The Transportation index in St. Clair Shores is 103.
The Utilities index in St. Clair Shores is 96.
| Living Expense | St. Clair Shores | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 84 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 98 | 100 |
St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Clair Shores, 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 St. Clair Shores is $227,950.
The Median Rent in St. Clair Shores is $1,183.
The Median Income in St. Clair Shores is $73,500.
The Home Value To Income in St. Clair Shores is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Clair Shores is 0.19x.
| Statistic | St. Clair Shores | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $227,950 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,183 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,500 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
St. Clair Shores, MI Costs By Category
Detailed St. Clair Shores Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Clair Shores | 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 St. Clair Shores Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Clair Shores | 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 St. Clair Shores Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Clair Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $85.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Clair Shores Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Clair Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Clair Shores Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Clair Shores | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
St. Clair Shores SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Clair Shores
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Clair Shores. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Warren, MI has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x St. Clair Shores.
Troy, MI has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x St. Clair Shores.
Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x St. Clair Shores.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren, MI | 137,928 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Troy, MI | 87,898 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Roseville, MI | 47,123 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Eastpointe, MI | 33,982 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Birmingham, MI | 21,763 | 146 | 1.6x |
| Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | 16,094 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Mount Clemens, MI | 15,511 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,149 | 105 | 1.1x |








