Fond du Lac, WI vs Bay City, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Bay City, MI and Fond du Lac, WI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fond du Lac works out to about $75,200 in Bay City, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.9% lower in Bay City, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.2% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,018 a month in Bay City and $1,128 in Fond du Lac, $1,320 a year less in Bay City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $186,000 in Bay City and $292,000 in Fond du Lac.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.5%).
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.
Overall prices are about the same in Fond du Lac and Bay City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 | 91.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 67.3 | 66.7 |
| Utilities | 91.1 | 95.2 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Category | Fond du Lac | Bay City | Bay City vs Fond du Lac |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 | 91.9 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 67.3 | 66.7 | −0.9% |
| Utilities | 91.1 | 95.2 | +4.5% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,128 | $1,018 | −9.8% |
| Typical home value | $292,000 | $186,000 | −36.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fond du Lac | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.3% |
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 Fond du Lac and Bay City has narrowed since 2008: 10.7 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.4 | 94.1 |
| 2009 | 86.0 | 93.9 |
| 2010 | 88.8 | 92.5 |
| 2011 | 87.7 | 92.7 |
| 2012 | 91.0 | 93.2 |
| 2013 | 91.1 | 93.4 |
| 2014 | 90.0 | 92.9 |
| 2015 | 89.6 | 91.0 |
| 2016 | 88.2 | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 87.1 | 89.4 |
| 2018 | 92.3 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 92.4 |
| 2020 | 91.2 | 88.8 |
| 2021 | 92.2 | 91.5 |
| 2022 | 89.4 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 90.6 |
| 2024 | 91.6 | 91.9 |
Goods
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.3 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 85.1 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 93.6 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 94.6 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 95.8 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 94.4 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 93.8 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 97.1 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 94.1 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 68.7 | 68.0 |
| 2009 | 65.7 | 72.0 |
| 2010 | 64.5 | 67.7 |
| 2011 | 66.2 | 72.6 |
| 2012 | 73.7 | 73.7 |
| 2013 | 77.9 | 73.3 |
| 2014 | 68.8 | 73.0 |
| 2015 | 75.9 | 68.6 |
| 2016 | 73.3 | 72.8 |
| 2017 | 69.7 | 62.5 |
| 2018 | 72.7 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 70.7 | 66.6 |
| 2020 | 68.1 | 58.5 |
| 2021 | 70.1 | 67.6 |
| 2022 | 63.0 | 53.3 |
| 2023 | 77.6 | 65.6 |
| 2024 | 67.3 | 66.7 |
Utilities
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.1 | 95.8 |
| 2009 | 90.1 | 102.9 |
| 2010 | 97.5 | 102.7 |
| 2011 | 87.9 | 104.6 |
| 2012 | 85.2 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 88.3 | 104.1 |
| 2014 | 89.8 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 88.0 | 93.4 |
| 2016 | 90.6 | 92.4 |
| 2017 | 89.7 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 97.6 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 93.2 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 101.1 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 102.5 |
| 2022 | 89.2 | 95.1 |
| 2023 | 90.0 | 95.3 |
| 2024 | 91.1 | 95.2 |
Other services
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.3 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 94.8 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 91.9 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 94.1 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 93.0 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 93.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 90.0 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 88.9 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 88.4 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 97.7 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,018 in Bay City vs $1,128 in Fond du Lac
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | 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 | $832 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $857 | $861 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $863 | $888 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $867 | $875 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $891 | $860 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $935 | $904 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $957 | $893 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $951 | $892 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $951 | $912 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $993 | $938 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,028 | $934 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,042 | $965 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,016 | $934 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,032 | $963 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,040 | $993 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,089 | $968 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,108 | $982 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,108 | $982 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,128 | $1,018 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $186,000 in Bay City vs $292,000 in Fond du Lac
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Bay City, MI
- 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
| Fond du Lac, WI | Bay City, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $143K | $89K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $144K | $91K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $145K | $93K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $144K | $93K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $146K | $94K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $146K | $95K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $147K | $95K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $148K | $94K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $149K | $94K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $151K | $95K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $153K | $97K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $156K | $98K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $159K | $100K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $161K | $101K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $163K | $101K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $165K | $101K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $169K | $104K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $171K | $108K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $173K | $110K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $175K | $114K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $177K | $116K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $179K | $118K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $183K | $121K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $190K | $124K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $195K | $128K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $204K | $133K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $210K | $136K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $213K | $137K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $221K | $142K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $232K | $146K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $233K | $146K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $233K | $146K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $238K | $148K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $152K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $249K | $156K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $251K | $159K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $256K | $163K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $264K | $167K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $266K | $167K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $269K | $169K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $273K | $170K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $277K | $172K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $278K | $175K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $283K | $179K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $288K | $182K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $290K | $184K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $292K | $186K | $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.