The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Michigan For 2023


We used science and data to determine which cities in Michigan that will put a big dent in your wallet.

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Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Michigan.

If you're about to move to the Wolverine State but want to avoid living in an outrageously expensive city, you're in the right place. We've done the research to discover which places in Michigan are the most expensive to live in.

While big Michigan cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids may be the first to come to mind, they actually aren't among the most expensive cities in the state. In fact, Michigan's priciest places are fairly well distributed throughout the state. Ann Arbor and some its surrounding cities make up a big chunk of this list, but there are also a few on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, like Houghton, and a handful in Michigan's mitten, like Traverse City. Wherever you are on this list geographically, it's a safe bet that life's going to be a bit tougher economically.

So how much money should you have in the piggy bank if you want to hang with the elite in these hyper-expenive Michigan cities? Earning at least $24,660/year oughta keep you from going bust in any of these places. If you want to compete with Michigan's native son Larry Page, you'll have to earn substantially more. Just invent the world's most popular search engine -- easy!

Get ready to swap stock tips with Michigan's many billionaires, because we're heading to the most expensive places to live in the Wolverine State.

Here are the 10 most expensive places to live in Michigan for 2023:

  1. Chelsea
  2. Ann Arbor
  3. East Lansing
  4. Houghton
  5. Ypsilanti
  6. Howell
  7. Marquette
  8. Brighton
  9. Traverse City
  10. Southfield

What's the most expensive place to live in Michigan? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Chelsea is the most expensive place to live in Michigan.

So hopefully Ishpeming (the cheapest place to live in Michigan) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.

And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Michigan and the most expensive cities in the country:

The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Michigan For 2023

1. Chelsea

Chelsea, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,447
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 3)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x (10th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 42.1x (11th most expensive)
More on Chelsea: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Chelsea comes in at $66,985 and the median home value is $256,300 for 2023.

2. Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 122,731
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x (2nd most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 53.0x (36th most expensive)
More on Ann Arbor: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Ann Arbor comes in at $73,276 and the median home value is $366,600 for 2023.

3. East Lansing

East Lansing, MI

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 47,427
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x (3rd most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 41.6x (9th most expensive)
More on East Lansing: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in East Lansing comes in at $41,177 and the median home value is $203,400 for 2023.

4. Houghton

Houghton, MI

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,675
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 2)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x (most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 32.8x (most expensive)
More on Houghton: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Houghton comes in at $24,660 and the median home value is $173,200 for 2023.

5. Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti, MI

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 20,448
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 2)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x (6th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 44.8x (17th most expensive)
More on Ypsilanti: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Ypsilanti comes in at $40,256 and the median home value is $167,100 for 2023.

6. Howell

Howell, MI

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 10,025
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x (11th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 52.4x (34th most expensive)
More on Howell: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Howell comes in at $52,569 and the median home value is $198,900 for 2023.

7. Marquette

Marquette, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 20,561
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.1x (7th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 54.7x (38th most expensive)
More on Marquette: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Marquette comes in at $47,179 and the median home value is $192,200 for 2023.

8. Brighton

Brighton, MI

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,462
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x (13th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 62.5x (65th most expensive)
More on Brighton: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Brighton comes in at $66,726 and the median home value is $245,400 for 2023.

9. Traverse City

Traverse City, MI

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 15,263
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.6x (4th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 68.2x (89th most expensive)
More on Traverse City: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Traverse City comes in at $64,033 and the median home value is $292,800 for 2023.

10. Southfield

Southfield, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 76,196
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x (37th most expensive)
Income To Rent Ratio: 51.2x (30th most expensive)
More on Southfield: Real Estate | Data | Photos

The median income in Southfield comes in at $60,006 and the median home value is $176,000 for 2023.

Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Wolverine State For 2023

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford if you can live comes down to:

  1. How much do money do I make?
  2. How much do I have spend to live there?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.

For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing it's actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.

With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2017-2021 around incomes and costs. They are:

  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

We added simply median home price because high home prices generally correlate with higher expenses for all costs related to homes (heating, electricity, etc).

You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Michigan to figure out which is the most expensive.

What you are left with is a "Cost of Living Index" by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.

So we used that cost of living index in order to rank all of the 148 places in Michigan that have more than 5,000 people.

The place with the highest cost of living in Michigan according to the data is Chelsea. You can download the data here.

Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Michigan For 2023

Well there you have it, the places in Michigan that have the highest cost of living, with Chelsea ranking as the most expensive city in the Wolverine State.

Here's a look at the most affordable cities in Michigan according to the data:

  1. Ishpeming
  2. Dowagiac
  3. Charlotte

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Most Expensive Cities In Michigan

Rank City ExpensiveScore Population Home/Income Ratio Income/Rent Ratio
1 Chelsea 14.0 5,447 3.8x 42.1x
2 Ann Arbor 15.33 122,731 5.0x 53.0x
3 East Lansing 16.33 47,427 4.9x 41.6x
4 Houghton 19.0 7,675 7.0x 32.8x
5 Ypsilanti 27.0 20,448 4.2x 44.8x
6 Howell 28.0 10,025 3.8x 52.4x
7 Marquette 29.33 20,561 4.1x 54.7x
8 Brighton 33.83 7,462 3.7x 62.5x
9 Traverse City 36.33 15,263 4.6x 68.2x
10 Southfield 40.0 76,196 2.9x 51.2x
11 Utica 40.33 5,188 3.5x 58.8x
12 Allegan 42.67 5,165 3.3x 47.5x
13 Grand Rapids 42.67 197,858 3.0x 54.7x
14 Kentwood 43.0 53,884 3.1x 59.6x
15 Grand Haven 43.67 10,935 3.7x 65.1x
16 Mount Pleasant 44.0 21,880 3.5x 51.6x
17 Big Rapids 45.0 9,105 3.6x 39.9x
18 Sterling Heights 45.0 134,062 3.0x 62.9x
19 Walled Lake 45.33 7,263 2.9x 52.1x
20 Birmingham 46.0 21,728 4.2x 78.9x
21 Novi 46.0 65,369 3.3x 70.2x
22 Ludington 51.33 7,728 3.3x 60.6x
23 Dearborn 52.0 107,985 2.7x 54.8x
24 Petoskey 52.33 5,856 3.7x 72.1x
25 St. Joseph 52.33 7,868 3.4x 70.2x
26 Rochester 52.33 13,048 3.9x 90.8x
27 Walker 54.67 25,149 3.2x 70.5x
28 Kalamazoo 55.0 74,020 2.8x 51.0x
29 Farmington Hills 55.67 83,749 3.0x 73.4x
30 Wixom 56.67 16,853 3.9x 88.2x
31 Plymouth 57.33 9,308 3.8x 102.5x
32 Saline 57.67 9,072 3.2x 76.4x
33 Holland 58.0 34,067 2.8x 65.2x
34 Rochester Hills 58.67 75,990 3.0x 75.9x
35 Troy 59.0 86,912 3.1x 79.8x
36 Royal Oak 59.33 58,368 2.9x 73.4x
37 Auburn Hills 59.67 24,202 2.5x 61.5x
38 Warren 59.67 138,996 2.6x 53.6x
39 Zeeland 60.0 5,701 3.2x 70.2x
40 Huntington Woods 60.33 6,382 2.4x 69.4x
41 Grosse Pointe Park 61.0 11,529 3.1x 97.6x
42 Oak Park 61.33 29,677 2.4x 49.9x
43 Milford 61.33 6,511 3.4x 99.1x
44 Richmond 62.67 5,871 3.3x 74.9x
45 East Grand Rapids 63.33 11,381 2.8x 88.6x
46 Greenville 63.33 9,057 2.8x 55.8x
47 Westland 63.67 84,961 2.6x 57.4x
48 Madison Heights 64.0 28,719 2.6x 59.2x
49 Dearborn Heights 64.67 62,334 2.4x 50.0x
50 South Lyon 65.67 11,786 2.8x 74.6x
51 Grosse Pointe 66.0 5,597 2.8x 81.7x
52 Farmington 66.67 11,481 2.7x 74.2x
53 Flat Rock 67.67 10,439 2.6x 63.9x
54 Grandville 68.33 16,043 2.9x 75.3x
55 Beverly Hills 68.33 10,593 2.7x 103.4x
56 New Baltimore 68.5 12,147 3.0x 97.2x
57 Northville 68.67 6,106 2.8x 109.8x
58 Mount Clemens 69.33 15,735 2.7x 61.5x
59 Portage 69.67 48,767 2.7x 72.4x
60 Grand Blanc 69.67 8,055 3.1x 84.9x
61 Woodhaven 72.0 12,889 2.7x 72.7x
62 Riverview 72.0 12,465 2.6x 69.2x
63 Livonia 72.33 95,294 2.5x 74.4x
64 Lapeer 72.33 8,911 2.6x 60.1x
65 Fenton 72.67 11,949 2.4x 63.4x
66 Benton Harbor 72.67 9,171 2.5x 33.3x
67 Wyoming 74.0 76,625 2.5x 63.1x
68 Frankenmuth 74.33 5,045 2.8x 107.3x
69 Grosse Pointe Woods 74.67 16,353 2.4x 73.1x
70 Berkley 75.0 15,234 2.5x 75.3x
71 Clawson 75.67 11,482 2.7x 79.1x
72 Hamtramck 78.33 27,548 2.4x 42.3x
73 Grosse Pointe Farms 78.33 10,018 2.5x 114.3x
74 Norton Shores 78.33 25,040 2.4x 66.0x
75 Hastings 78.33 7,480 2.4x 58.6x
76 St. Clair Shores 78.67 59,046 2.4x 65.3x
77 Ferndale 78.67 19,414 2.4x 71.1x
78 Port Huron 79.67 29,009 2.3x 52.0x
79 Adrian 80.67 20,674 2.3x 44.5x
80 Holly 81.0 6,031 2.5x 65.5x
81 Tecumseh 81.0 8,645 2.6x 71.3x
82 Hudsonville 81.67 7,598 2.3x 69.0x
83 Melvindale 81.67 12,534 2.2x 36.8x
84 Harper Woods 82.0 15,287 2.1x 45.8x
85 Rockford 82.33 6,131 2.5x 92.9x
86 Monroe 83.0 20,344 2.5x 68.6x
87 Fraser 83.33 14,703 2.7x 79.7x
88 Marysville 84.33 9,925 2.4x 69.0x
89 St. Clair 84.67 5,489 2.3x 69.6x
90 Wayne 85.0 17,624 2.3x 58.1x
91 Hillsdale 85.67 8,196 2.4x 62.5x
92 Roseville 86.0 47,692 2.1x 49.5x
93 Hazel Park 86.33 15,213 2.1x 48.1x
94 Muskegon 87.67 37,632 2.2x 48.6x
95 Pontiac 88.0 61,498 2.2x 42.3x
96 Southgate 89.0 29,990 2.2x 62.8x
97 Grand Ledge 89.17 7,792 2.5x 77.2x
98 Coldwater 89.33 13,764 2.2x 55.9x
99 Sault Ste. Marie 90.67 13,523 2.3x 60.2x
100 Milan 90.67 6,156 2.4x 81.8x

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About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.