Detroit, MI vs Miami, FL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Miami, FL is 13.8% more expensive than Detroit, MI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Detroit works out to about $85,400 in Miami, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 64.3% more in Miami. Goods are 4.8% higher and other services 6.4% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,654 a month in Miami and $1,514 in Detroit, $13,680 a year more in Miami (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $477,000 in Miami and $264,000 in Detroit.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Miami was 10.3% more expensive than Detroit.
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.
Housing drives the gap: 64.3% higher in Miami than in Detroit
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 114.2 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 103.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 155.6 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 97.2 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 109.1 |
| Category | Detroit | Miami | Miami vs Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 114.2 | +13.8% |
| Goods | 98.8 | 103.6 | +4.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 155.6 | +64.3% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 97.2 | −9.1% |
| Other services | 102.6 | 109.1 | +6.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,514 | $2,654 | +75.3% |
| Typical home value | $264,000 | $477,000 | +80.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Detroit | $75,000 | $85,400 | +13.8% |
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 Detroit and Miami has widened since 2008: 5.9 points then, 13.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 106.5 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 106.0 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 105.3 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 106.7 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 107.5 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 106.7 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 105.9 |
| 2015 | 96.9 | 107.3 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 107.9 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 108.3 |
| 2018 | 97.3 | 109.5 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 108.6 |
| 2020 | 98.3 | 109.5 |
| 2021 | 96.4 | 110.0 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 111.9 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 112.1 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 114.2 |
Goods
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 102.1 | 97.9 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 101.0 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 101.5 |
| 2014 | 99.5 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 98.2 | 99.6 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 100.5 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 103.2 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 104.4 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 99.8 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 100.3 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 105.3 |
| 2022 | 94.7 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 101.8 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 103.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.4 | 147.0 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 138.6 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 138.1 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 138.5 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 140.7 |
| 2013 | 95.7 | 137.7 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 138.9 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 143.6 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 141.3 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 142.1 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 142.2 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 143.8 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 144.0 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 143.7 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 147.2 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 156.6 |
| 2024 | 94.7 | 155.6 |
Utilities
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 104.6 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 109.0 |
| 2010 | 107.2 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 108.2 | 100.6 |
| 2012 | 109.7 | 98.3 |
| 2013 | 109.6 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 103.5 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 93.5 |
| 2017 | 105.7 | 86.3 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 100.7 | 103.1 |
| 2020 | 106.0 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 102.1 | 97.0 |
| 2022 | 101.9 | 106.4 |
| 2023 | 106.8 | 98.0 |
| 2024 | 107.0 | 97.2 |
Other services
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 99.2 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 101.0 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 102.9 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 103.1 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 98.8 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 96.6 | 102.7 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 103.8 |
| 2017 | 93.4 | 103.0 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 104.0 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 104.6 |
| 2020 | 98.5 | 105.6 |
| 2021 | 98.9 | 103.9 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 106.7 |
| 2023 | 99.5 | 106.7 |
| 2024 | 102.6 | 109.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,654 in Miami vs $1,514 in Detroit
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $854 | $1,463 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $871 | $1,486 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $879 | $1,513 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $875 | $1,532 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $882 | $1,539 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $899 | $1,542 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $907 | $1,551 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $905 | $1,555 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $918 | $1,572 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $948 | $1,579 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $953 | $1,598 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $952 | $1,605 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $964 | $1,613 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $986 | $1,626 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $994 | $1,643 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $987 | $1,661 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,007 | $1,659 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,032 | $1,671 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,033 | $1,686 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,032 | $1,712 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,040 | $1,717 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,066 | $1,702 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,100 | $1,717 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,112 | $1,763 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,143 | $1,829 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,187 | $1,948 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,230 | $2,130 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,246 | $2,258 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,265 | $2,366 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,313 | $2,473 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,324 | $2,507 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,310 | $2,519 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,320 | $2,526 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,342 | $2,540 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,354 | $2,551 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,354 | $2,555 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,371 | $2,569 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,401 | $2,581 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,415 | $2,594 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,421 | $2,595 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,435 | $2,606 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,450 | $2,608 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,453 | $2,606 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,457 | $2,608 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,468 | $2,622 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,496 | $2,637 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,514 | $2,654 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $477,000 in Miami vs $264,000 in Detroit
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- Miami, FL
- 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
| Detroit, MI | Miami, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $124K | $219K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $128K | $224K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $230K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $133K | $236K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $136K | $241K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $139K | $246K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $141K | $251K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $144K | $256K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $148K | $261K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $152K | $266K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $154K | $271K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $157K | $276K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $162K | $281K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $165K | $284K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $168K | $289K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $169K | $294K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $174K | $297K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $177K | $297K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $178K | $298K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $179K | $303K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $182K | $310K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $184K | $310K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $314K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $194K | $326K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $204K | $338K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $214K | $353K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $217K | $370K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $385K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $226K | $412K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $236K | $443K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $234K | $456K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $231K | $459K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $461K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $235K | $469K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $240K | $479K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $242K | $488K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $245K | $494K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $250K | $499K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $251K | $499K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $253K | $497K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $256K | $493K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $257K | $484K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $476K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $262K | $473K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $264K | $474K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $264K | $473K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $264K | $477K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
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.