What is the cost of living in St. Joseph, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Joseph has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, St. Joseph has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in St. Joseph ranks as #128 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies St. Joseph ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in St. Joseph, check out:
St. Joseph Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Joseph. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Joseph is 93.
The Groceries index in St. Joseph is 98.
The Health index in St. Joseph is 104.
The Housing index in St. Joseph is 94.
The Transportation index in St. Joseph is 97.
The Utilities index in St. Joseph is 96.
| Living Expense | St. Joseph | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 104 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 98 | 100 |
St. Joseph 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. Joseph Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Joseph, 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. Joseph is $328,306.
The Median Rent in St. Joseph is $1,081.
The Median Income in St. Joseph is $84,057.
The Home Value To Income in St. Joseph is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Joseph is 0.15x.
| Statistic | St. Joseph | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $328,306 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,081 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $84,057 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
St. Joseph, MI Costs By Category
Detailed St. Joseph Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Joseph | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.14 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.35 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $26.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed St. Joseph Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Joseph | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.62 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.65 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.58 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.14 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.06 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed St. Joseph Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Joseph | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $74.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $121.31 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $112.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Joseph Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Joseph | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.56 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Joseph Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | St. Joseph | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $205.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $192.25 |
St. Joseph SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Joseph
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Joseph. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kalamazoo, MI has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x St. Joseph.
Portage, MI has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x St. Joseph.
Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x St. Joseph.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Joseph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo, MI | 73,076 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Portage, MI | 49,259 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Goshen, IN | 34,420 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Granger, IN | 30,321 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Chesterton, IN | 14,446 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Benton Harbor, MI | 8,953 | 81 | 0.8x |
| Westwood, MI | 8,867 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Fair Plain, MI | 7,330 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Dunlap, IN | 6,109 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Westville, IN | 5,279 | 90 | 0.9x |
