Cost of Living in Michigan, 2023
Michigan is an incredible state known for its Great lakes, beaches, and rivers. Plus, of the many incredible draws to this state are its four distinct seasons. Whether you are interested in the stunning beauty or lifestyle ranging in everything from a big city to country living, there are plenty of things to enjoy about life in Michigan.
Outdoor enthusiasts feel right at home in Michigan with all sorts of activities to enjoy, including top-notch golf, hunting, camping, and fishing. You can also check out some unbeatable nightclubs, restaurants, and wineries if that’s more your scene.
Overall, the cost of living in Michigan is considerably low, meaning you can easily find something within budget. The good news is, we’ve already done all the research, so you don’t have to. Start by checking out this apartment guide, then keep scrolling for all the details on building out your new budget in Michigan.
Michigan Housing Costs
Housing costs, either monthly mortgage payments or rent, are going to be your highest living expenses, regardless of where you choose to call home. You’ll want to build a budget around your anticipated housing costs, whether you’re looking to move to Michigan or somewhere else, to get an idea of just how high they can be.
Though the cost of living in Michigan is lower than the national average, you’ll still want to get an idea of what areas might be within your budget throughout the state. For a more detailed breakdown, here is a list of average rent prices of five of the best places to live in Michigan, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, and Lansing.
| City | Average 1-Bedroom Rent | Average 2-Bedroom Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $680 | $920 |
| Lansing, MI | $835 | $1,020 |
| Warren, MI | $753 | $963 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $938 | $1,188 |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $998 | $1,268 |
While Michigan’s rent prices are relatively affordable, you can still find considerable savings by renting with a roommate. For example, if you rent in Sterling Heights and split the two-bedroom apartment costs, you can save approximately $634 per month. That adds up to $7,608 over a 12-month lease!
Michigan has rental properties in all forms, from country-style, single-family homes to high-rises located in the heart of bustling downtowns. There’s something to fit every renter’s taste in Michigan.
Finding the Best Michigan Apartment for You
If you're uncertain about a neighborhood, consider a month-to-month apartment before making a long-term 12-month commitment. If it's your first time renting or if you don't have a high credit score, consider no credit check apartments. Lastly, if you prefer to rent from the owner of an apartment and have a more personal relationship with them rather than property managers, consider a for rent by owner apartment.
Michigan Transportation
Getting around in Michigan can be costly, with average annual transportation costs of $5,305 for a single individual, according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator. If you’re a family of four with two working parents and two children, you can anticipate paying around $14,456 in transportation costs on an annual basis.
Michigan has 82 transportation agencies servicing the state. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is the ruling agency over them all. Public transit providers include urban transit agencies, rural public transit agencies, and ferry boat service agencies.
While public transportation is one option, having reliable transportation is easier. You can get a better idea of the costs associated with having your vehicle by looking at the average gas prices in the major cities in Michigan:
- Detroit: $4.42/gallon
- Grand Rapids: $4.34/gallon
- Warren: $3.89/gallon
- Sterling Heights: $4.27/gallon
- Lansing: $4.90/gallon
Considering the national average is currently $4.40 per gallon of regular gas, Michigan’s gasoline costs are about average.
Michigan Food Costs
The average single Michigan resident spends around $3,423 annually on food, roughly $285.25 per month. For a family of two, with two working adults and two children, these costs nearly triple to $10,068 annually, approximately $839 per month.
Note that these figures are associated with food picked up at the local Meijer, Kroger, or Westborn Market and entirely prepared in the home. You may also want to budget for additional food costs if you are anything short of a mastermind in the kitchen.
With so many delicious restaurants and iconic Michigan foods, it’s hard to resist a few meals outside of your kitchen. Don’t forget to account for eating out in your budget, including trying out the famous Coney Island hot dog, Buddy’s Detroit style pizza, tart cherries, and Frankenmuth Chicken.
Here’s a look at some of the average costs for a three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant:
- Detroit: $60/meal
- Grand Rapids: $60/meal
- Warren: $50/meal
- Sterling Heights: $60/meal
- Lansing: $60.00/meal
Michigan Healthcare Costs
Regardless of where you choose to live, you should make a healthy lifestyle a top priority. If you only see your doctor for regular checkups or suffer from chronic illnesses, it is essential to have proper health insurance. Having good medical coverage can also be beneficial to ensure you can afford any treatments necessary, should any emergencies arise.
A single adult without children will pay around $2,491 for medical care in a single year. A family of four with two working adults and two children can expect to pay $6,855, not including child care. Childcare for two can add on an average of $28,798 per year.
Before making your big move, see what coverage is available in your new state by checking out the federal healthcare marketplace. You can report your move to make sure you qualify for out-of-state coverage if you happen to be relocating outside of an enrollment period, which usually falls in November.
If you’re moving out of state and still on your parents’ insurance plan, it is possible to maintain standing through their policy as long as you are under 26 years old. Check with your current provider before moving to see which doctors fall in the network in your new location to be sure.
Michigan Utilities
The average utility bills can vary, depending on the city in Michigan you move to. Considering the national average cost of utilities is $240 monthly, Michigan is reasonable. Only Charleston is slightly above average. The average cost of monthly utilities for a 915-square-foot apartment, including electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, is broken down by the major cities in Michigan:
- Detroit: $280.06/month
- Grand Rapids: $118.29/month
- Warren: $155.19/month
- Sterling Heights: $158.94/month
- Lansing: $234.96/month
Learn more about the estimated utility costs per city!
Keep in mind that these average costs do not include other expenses, such as the internet. The average monthly cost of internet of 60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, or cable/ADSL in these major cities is:
- Detroit: $72/month
- Grand Rapids: $62.38/month
- Warren: $56.67/month
- Sterling Heights: $65.94/month
- Lansing: $56.38/month
It’s also important to remember your cell phone bill, which averages $114 a month in the country. You might be able to save on some of these costs by bundling your cell phone with your internet provider. There are other discounts to look out for, too, including those for new customers, so don’t be afraid to ask your provider about these and more.
Michigan Fitness and Entertainment
There is no shortage of fitness and entertainment opportunities in Michigan. Before moving to Michigan, take a look at this breakdown of some of these fitness and entertainment costs.
Fitness
While the summers are warm in Michigan, winters are windy, snowy, and freezing. These extreme colds can make outdoor exercise challenging in the wintertime. To maintain your fitness year-round, you might want to consider a gym membership.
Thankfully, the average cost of a monthly fitness club membership in Michigan’s major cities is relatively low:
- Detroit: $40.33/month
- Grand Rapids: $34.17/month
- Warren: $27.50/month
- Sterling Heights: $16.67/month
- Lansing: $16/month
Michigan has several outdoor activities that can help you save on costs when weather permits, including fly fishing the Au Sable River, mountain biking on the Keweenaw Peninsula, or boating the Great Lakes. But, if you plan to be outdoors year-round, remember that you’ll have to adjust your wardrobe accordingly, which will also come at an additional cost.
National and State Parks
Michigan is home to six national parks, including:
- Isle Royale National Park in Houghton
- Keweenaw National Historical Park in Calumet
- North Country National Scenic Trail
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire
In addition to the wide range of national parks, Michigan has over 100 state parks worth checking out, including:
- Mackinac Island State Historic Park
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
- Warren Dunes State Park
- Tawas Point State Park
- Belle Isle State Park
Museums
You’ll find countless museums in Michigan, great for year-round family entertainment. Some of the most famous museums in the state include:
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Motown Museum
- The Henry Ford
- Kalamazoo Valley Museum
- Gerald R. Ford Museum
Other Expenses to Consider in Michigan
It’s hard not to love Michigan with its flat income tax rate. However, some cities do charge additional tax rates. Additionally, the state sales tax rate is low, with no additional local sales taxes, meaning the 6% rate is across the state.
Other expenses to consider come from big moves from out of state. Movers, storage, hotels, and transportation are just a few costs that may sneak up on you. Apartment application fees, security deposits, pet deposits, and other optional add-ons are other additional fees that may come when you move to your new home.
Lastly, don’t forget about furnishing your new home, which also comes at an expense. You’ll have to account for this spending in your budget since you’ll want to do some decorating to make it feel like a home. To avoid overspending in this area of your move, check out a few tips on how to decorate your apartment on a budget.
What Salary Do I Need to Live in Michigan?
Your recommended salary in Michigan will depend on the type of lifestyle you plan to lead. To figure out an ideal salary, you can look at a few different options for budgeting.
Living Wage
The living wage in Michigan is $16.36 an hour, which is the basic wage needed to pay for essentials such as housing, food, and necessities for an individual adult.
Median Household Income
The median household income in Michigan is in the higher range across the country at $63,202 per year, which is roughly $30.39 an hour.
The 30% Rule
The 30% rule is another rule to determine your recommended salary in Michigan. When you follow this rule, you should not spend more than one-third of your gross income on rent.
For example, if you’re planning to rent in Detroit, the median rent for a one-bedroom is $680. According to the 30% rule, your monthly wages should be at least $2,266.66 a month or an annual salary of $27,200.
Final Thoughts
If you want to move to a beautiful state with four distinct seasons and everything from country to big city living, Michigan might be the state for you. Register with Apartment List today and start checking out the thousands of available apartments to rent in Michigan!
FAQ: Cost of Living in Michigan in 2023
How expensive is an apartment in Michigan?
A one-bedroom apartment in Michigan costs $680 in Detroit and a two-bedroom apartment in Detroit costs $920.
A one-bedroom apartment in Michigan costs $835 in Lansing and a two-bedroom apartment costs $1,020.
A one-bedroom in apartment costs $858 in Warren and a two-bedroom costs $1,100.
A one-bedroom in Michigan costs $938 in Grand Rapids and a two-bedroom costs $1,188.
A one-bedroom in Michigan costs $998 in Sterling Heights and a two-bedroom costs $1,268.
What is the cheapest rent in Michigan?
The cheapest rent in Michigan is a one-bedroom apartment, with an average rent of $680 in Detroit.
How expensive is it to live in Michigan?
In Michigan rent averages $680 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in Detroit. Monthly food costs run $285.25 for an individual per month or $839 for a family of four. A three-course meal for two people in both Detroit and Lansing costs $60. In Grand Rapids, a three-course meal for two costs $60, but in Warren it's $50.
How far is Michigan from Ohio?
Michigan to Ohio is 365.1 miles and takes about 5 hours and 42 minutes to drive. It takes under an hour to fly from Mighian to Ohio.
How far is Michigan from New York?
It takes 820.1 miles to drive from Michigan to New York and takes about 13 hours. To fly, it takes about one hour and thirty minutes.
How far is Indiana from Michigan?
It's 320.3 miles from Michigan to Indiana and takes just over five hours to drive. The flight time between Michigan and Indiana is about an hour.
What is the population of Michigan?
According to the US Census Bureau, there are 10,050,811 people living in Michigan. The population of Detroit is 632,464.
What is a good salary in Michigan?
To comfortably live in a one-bedroom apartment in Michigan, you should earn at least $27,200 a year to live in Detroit. To comfortably live in a one-bedroom apartment in Michigan, you should earn at least $33,400 a year to live in Lansing. According to the US Census Bureau, the median income in Michigan is $63,202, giving a little extra room in your budget.
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