Sterling Heights, MI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Sterling Heights, MI Summary

Cost of living in Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights is 104, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Sterling Heights is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Sterling Heights ranks as the #150 cheapest in Michigan out of 180.

  • Sterling Heights ranks as the #3,063 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling Heights is $307,242.

  • The median income in Sterling Heights is $78,429.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
104
Sterling Heights's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling Heights, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling Heights has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Sterling Heights has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Michigan's index of 90.

The standard of living in Sterling Heights ranks as #150 most affordable out of the 180 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Sterling Heights ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Sterling Heights, check out:

150 out of 180
In Michigan
3,063 out of 6,489
In America

Sterling Heights Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

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

  • The Services index in Sterling Heights is 103.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling Heights is 103.

  • The Health index in Sterling Heights is 103.

  • The Housing index in Sterling Heights is 107.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling Heights is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling Heights is 95.

Living Expense Sterling Heights Michigan National Average
Overall 104 90 100
Services 103 93 100
Groceries 103 97 100
Health 103 91 100
Housing 107 72 100
Transportation 98 96 100
Utilities 95 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Sterling Heights Cost of Living Vs. MI

Sterling Heights, 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 Sterling Heights is $307,242.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling Heights is $1,267.

  • The Median Income in Sterling Heights is $78,429.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling Heights is 3.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling Heights is 0.19x.

Statistic Sterling Heights Michigan United States
Median Home Value $307,242 $258,642 $303,400
Median Rent $1,267 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $78,429 $71,149 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.9x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.18x 0.21x
$307,242
Median Home Value
$1,267
Median Rent
$78,429
Median Income

Sterling Heights, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Heights Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights Health Costs Vs. Michigan

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

Detailed Sterling Heights Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Sterling Heights Michigan
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.0 $59.92

Detailed Sterling Heights Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Sterling Heights Michigan
All Electricity $219.2 $193.99
Phone $184.44 $192.25

Sterling Heights SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
7
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9.5
Education
8
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling Heights

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sterling Heights. 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, 0.9x Sterling Heights.

  • Troy, MI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x Sterling Heights.

  • Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 1.1x Sterling Heights.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling Heights
Warren, MI 138,128 95 0.9x
Troy, MI 87,307 120 1.2x
Rochester Hills, MI 76,086 118 1.1x
Royal Oak, MI 57,880 107 1.0x
Roseville, MI 47,240 93 0.9x
Madison Heights, MI 28,411 97 0.9x
Birmingham, MI 21,612 149 1.4x
Mount Clemens, MI 15,567 89 0.9x
Berkley, MI 15,084 108 1.0x
Fraser, MI 14,604 97 0.9x

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