USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Michigan

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 96.2 3.8% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 28th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 82.3 29th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $53,569 41st of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Michigan are 3.8% below the national average, the 28th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in Michigan differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 17.7% below the US average, while goods are 4.0% below average and other services about average.
  • Within Michigan, metro price levels run from 90.5 in Battle Creek, MI to 100.9 in Ann Arbor, MI (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $53,569 in 2017 dollars, 41st of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Michigan has barely moved: 95.9 in 2008, 95.4 in 2019 and 96.2 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Michigan, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 17.7% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
96.2
Goods
96.0
Housing (rents)
82.3
Utilities
100.2
Other services
100.9

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
All items96.2
Goods96.0
Housing (rents)82.3
Utilities100.2
Other services100.9

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.14 a gallon in the Midwest region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.14 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Michigan, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Michigan

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 16 metro areas BEA measures in Michigan are Battle Creek, MI (90.5), Saginaw, MI (90.9) and Jackson, MI (91.8); the most expensive is Ann Arbor, MI (100.9). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Battle Creek, MI is the cheapest metro area in Michigan (90.5); Ann Arbor, MI the most expensive (100.9)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Battle Creek, MI
90.5
Saginaw, MI
90.9
Jackson, MI
91.8
Bay City, MI
91.9
Midland, MI
91.9
Niles, MI
92.4
Muskegon, MI
92.5
South Bend, IN Spans IN, MI
92.9
Flint, MI
93.0
Traverse City, MI
93.4
Monroe, MI
93.5
Kalamazoo, MI
94.8
Lansing, MI
95.0
Grand Rapids, MI
95.5
Detroit, MI
100.3
Ann Arbor, MI
100.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Battle Creek, MI90.5
Saginaw, MI90.9
Jackson, MI91.8
Bay City, MI91.9
Midland, MI91.9
Niles, MI92.4
Muskegon, MI92.5
South Bend, IN92.9
Flint, MI93.0
Traverse City, MI93.4
Monroe, MI93.5
Kalamazoo, MI94.8
Lansing, MI95.0
Grand Rapids, MI95.5
Detroit, MI100.3
Ann Arbor, MI100.9
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Battle Creek, MI 90.5 61.0 93.7 95.0 99.6 $1,146
Saginaw, MI 90.9 63.6 93.7 95.8 99.6 $1,055
Jackson, MI 91.8 67.1 93.7 97.8 99.6 $1,185
Bay City, MI 91.9 66.7 93.7 95.2 99.6 $1,018
Midland, MI 91.9 66.7 93.7 95.2 99.6 $1,382
Niles, MI 92.4 71.6 93.7 96.0 99.6 $1,403
Muskegon, MI 92.5 74.2 93.7 92.8 99.6 $1,288
South Bend, IN 92.9 74.6 94.2 87.7 99.2 $1,258
Flint, MI 93.0 74.0 93.7 97.1 99.6 $1,041
Traverse City, MI 93.4 78.1 93.7 92.4 99.6 $1,853
Monroe, MI 93.5 74.6 93.7 93.7 99.6 $1,277
Kalamazoo, MI 94.8 81.6 93.7 99.3 99.6 $1,287
Lansing, MI 95.0 83.5 93.7 95.5 99.6 $1,302
Grand Rapids, MI 95.5 86.6 93.7 93.8 99.6 $1,614
Detroit, MI 100.3 94.7 98.8 107.0 102.6 $1,514
Ann Arbor, MI 100.9 125.3 93.7 98.2 99.6 $1,917

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Michigan has stayed below the US average since 2008

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
200895.9
200996.0
201096.2
201195.2
201295.0
201395.2
201495.5
201593.7
201693.6
201792.7
201894.5
201995.4
202094.4
202194.3
202293.6
202394.3
202496.2

Goods: 95.3 in 2008, 96.0 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
200895.3
200997.7
201098.2
201198.5
201298.2
201398.4
201498.6
201597.8
201697.7
201797.3
201898.5
201996.1
202095.9
202194.7
202293.3
202395.8
202496.0

Housing (rents): 87.8 in 2008, 82.3 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
200887.8
200985.0
201086.8
201183.9
201283.2
201382.7
201483.3
201580.7
201682.4
201781.0
201880.7
201982.0
202080.7
202180.7
202280.8
202378.9
202482.3

Utilities: 95.8 in 2008, 100.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
200895.8
2009103.3
2010104.8
2011104.9
2012106.4
2013105.9
201499.3
201599.4
2016100.0
2017101.2
2018102.4
201998.7
2020103.1
2021101.7
202297.7
202399.7
2024100.2

Other services: 99.3 in 2008, 100.9 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Michigan
200899.3
200998.7
201097.8
201196.5
201296.5
201397.0
201497.4
201595.3
201694.6
201793.4
201896.2
201999.2
202098.1
202198.4
202297.9
202398.5
2024100.9

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Michigan is $53,569, 41st of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Michigan
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
MichiganUnited States
2008$41,949$45,816
2009$40,151$44,204
2010$40,986$44,808
2011$42,724$45,957
2012$43,541$46,796
2013$43,149$46,358
2014$44,089$47,661
2015$47,218$49,396
2016$48,000$49,828
2017$48,928$51,006
2018$48,921$52,242
2019$49,306$53,683
2020$53,586$56,514
2021$55,679$59,365
2022$53,454$57,104
2023$53,903$58,088
2024$53,569$59,195

Compare Michigan with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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