Battle Creek, MI vs Sandusky, OH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Sandusky, OH is 1.4% less expensive than Battle Creek, MI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Battle Creek works out to about $74,000 in Sandusky, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.1% lower and other services 0.6% lower in Sandusky, while housing is 2.6% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,812 a month in Sandusky and $1,146 in Battle Creek, $7,992 a year more in Sandusky (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $240,000 in Sandusky and $190,000 in Battle Creek.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Battle Creek and Sandusky
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.5 | 89.3 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 61.0 | 59.5 |
| Utilities | 95.0 | 96.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.9 |
| Category | Battle Creek | Sandusky | Sandusky vs Battle Creek |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.5 | 89.3 | −1.4% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 61.0 | 59.5 | −2.6% |
| Utilities | 95.0 | 96.7 | +1.8% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.9 | −0.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,146 | $1,812 | +58.1% |
| Typical home value | $190,000 | $240,000 | +26.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Battle Creek | $75,000 | $74,000 | −1.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Battle Creek and Sandusky has narrowed since 2008: 11.4 points then, 1.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.6 | 83.2 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 86.0 |
| 2010 | 92.3 | 87.4 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 87.2 |
| 2012 | 94.2 | 90.2 |
| 2013 | 93.4 | 89.5 |
| 2014 | 94.1 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 91.8 | 87.5 |
| 2016 | 91.9 | 83.2 |
| 2017 | 91.0 | 85.7 |
| 2018 | 92.0 | 89.8 |
| 2019 | 91.8 | 92.5 |
| 2020 | 90.7 | 88.7 |
| 2021 | 90.4 | 89.1 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 87.2 |
| 2023 | 88.2 | 89.0 |
| 2024 | 90.5 | 89.3 |
Goods
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 77.7 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 84.8 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 93.8 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 94.2 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 94.5 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 96.8 | 94.4 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 75.6 | 66.9 |
| 2009 | 76.1 | 67.1 |
| 2010 | 68.6 | 60.5 |
| 2011 | 73.0 | 65.5 |
| 2012 | 79.4 | 72.7 |
| 2013 | 73.8 | 72.1 |
| 2014 | 79.6 | 64.5 |
| 2015 | 73.6 | 66.3 |
| 2016 | 71.4 | 50.2 |
| 2017 | 71.0 | 63.4 |
| 2018 | 70.7 | 62.6 |
| 2019 | 67.6 | 70.6 |
| 2020 | 67.3 | 59.0 |
| 2021 | 62.1 | 60.7 |
| 2022 | 62.5 | 56.6 |
| 2023 | 57.0 | 58.4 |
| 2024 | 61.0 | 59.5 |
Utilities
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.7 | 88.8 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 89.3 |
| 2010 | 102.6 | 93.7 |
| 2011 | 104.4 | 83.8 |
| 2012 | 105.2 | 83.1 |
| 2013 | 103.7 | 85.5 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 86.1 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 86.9 |
| 2016 | 94.1 | 86.5 |
| 2017 | 96.9 | 87.1 |
| 2018 | 100.3 | 94.0 |
| 2019 | 97.7 | 90.8 |
| 2020 | 100.5 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 94.5 | 87.5 |
| 2023 | 95.6 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 95.0 | 96.7 |
Other services
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 94.1 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 95.1 |
| 2010 | 99.1 | 94.8 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 91.3 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 93.6 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 93.1 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 89.4 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,812 in Sandusky vs $1,146 in Battle Creek
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $957 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $949 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $950 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $971 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $976 | – | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $989 | – | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $988 | – | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,023 | – | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,007 | – | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,033 | – | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,048 | – | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,063 | – | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,086 | $1,604 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,105 | $1,630 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,091 | – | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,131 | $1,634 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,160 | $1,758 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,146 | $1,812 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $240,000 in Sandusky vs $190,000 in Battle Creek
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Battle Creek, MI
- Sandusky, OH
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Battle Creek, MI | Sandusky, OH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $84K | $125K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $86K | $126K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $87K | $126K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $88K | $126K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $91K | $127K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $92K | $128K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $92K | $128K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $95K | $129K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $98K | $131K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $98K | $132K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $100K | $133K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $102K | $135K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $102K | $136K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $99K | $139K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $103K | $139K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $107K | $140K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $111K | $143K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $114K | $145K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $117K | $147K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $120K | $149K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $120K | $151K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $123K | $153K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $127K | $157K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $133K | $165K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $138K | $172K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $147K | $178K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $153K | $181K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $155K | $183K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $161K | $190K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $166K | $198K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $162K | $198K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $160K | $200K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $161K | $199K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $165K | $203K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $168K | $209K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $169K | $211K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $172K | $214K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $179K | $219K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $177K | $223K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $179K | $227K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $181K | $232K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $183K | $232K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $184K | $232K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $185K | $233K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $188K | $235K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $190K | $237K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $190K | $240K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.