Cost of Living in Michigan
Based on 3 cities we track in Michigan.
Cost of living in Michigan is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $964 a month — 10% lower than the $1,076 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $65,526, about the same as the $66,029 median across the states we track. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$964
Median Home Value
$225,500
Median Income
$65,526
Avg Temperature
49.1°F
Medians across the Michigan cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
6%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 4.25%
Cities in Michigan
Compare Michigan with
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Michigan cost of living — FAQ
- Is Michigan expensive to live in?
- Michigan is around the middle of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $964 ranks #30 of 51 and is 10% lower than the $1,076 median.
- What is the average rent in Michigan?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Michigan, average rent runs a studio around $992, a one-bedroom around $964, a two-bedroom around $1,206, a three-bedroom around $1,421 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Michigan?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Michigan is $225,500 — 17% lower than the $270,100 median across the states we track.
- Does Michigan have a state income tax?
- Yes — Michigan's top state income tax rate is 4.25% (most filers pay less than the top rate). Its state sales tax rate is 6%; local jurisdictions may add more.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Michigan?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $964 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Michigan is $65,526.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).