Is Detroit expensive to live in?

Detroit is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $752 per month ranks #109 of 112 and is 30% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Detroit?

Average rent in Detroit, MI runs a studio around $801, a one-bedroom around $752, a two-bedroom around $1,001, a three-bedroom around $1,195 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Detroit?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $752 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year. The median household income here is $39,575.

How much does it cost to live in Detroit per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Detroit is about $970 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Detroit, MI

Population 636,644 · Michigan

~$970/mo est.1BR $752Home $76,800

Photo: William Duggan / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Detroit, MI is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $752 a month — 30% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $801 and two-bedrooms $1,001.

Median household income here is $39,575, 43% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $970 before food and transport. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $752

Studio

$801

1 Bedroom

$752

2 Bedroom

$1,001

3 Bedroom

$1,195

Buying a Home$76,800

Median Home Value

$76,800

Income$39,575

Median Household Income

$39,575

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,080

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities22.0¢/kWh

Electricity

22.0¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$14.07/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MI)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.25%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,783.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,783.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,391.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Detroit Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 35.1 yrs

Median Age

35.1 yrs

Homeownership

49.7%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.6%

Avg Commute

25.4 min

Climate50.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

50.3°F

Annual Precipitation

31.3 in

Detroit cost of living — FAQ

Is Detroit expensive to live in?: Detroit is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $752 per month ranks #109 of 112 and is 30% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Detroit?: Average rent in Detroit, MI runs a studio around $801, a one-bedroom around $752, a two-bedroom around $1,001, a three-bedroom around $1,195 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Detroit?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $752 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year. The median household income here is $39,575.
How much does it cost to live in Detroit per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Detroit is about $970 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Detroit with nearby cities

Detroit vs Cleveland Detroit vs Fort Wayne Detroit vs Columbus Detroit vs Pittsburgh Detroit vs Buffalo Detroit vs Cincinnati

Nearby cities

Cleveland, OH 90 mi Fort Wayne, IN 138 mi Columbus, OH 164 mi Pittsburgh, PA 205 mi Buffalo, NY 215 mi Cincinnati, OH 236 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.