Cost of living in Michigan
Prices in Michigan are 3.8% below the US average (28th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,937 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Michigan
| BEA RPP 2024 | Michigan | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Goods | 96.0 | −4.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 82.3 | −17.7% |
| Utilities | 100.2 | +0.2% |
| Other services | 100.9 | +0.9% |
Metros in Michigan
Metros whose principal city is in Michigan. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 4,390,913 | 100.3 | $1,459 | $177 | $1,084 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 1,183,645 | 95.5 | $1,630 | $173 | $1,071 |
| Lansing, MI | 479,722 | 95.0 | $1,323 | $169 | $1,382 |
| Flint, MI | 401,093 | 93.0 | $1,133 | $152 | $1,497 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 370,214 | 100.9 | $1,804 | $228 | $933 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 263,795 | 94.8 | $1,158 | $160 | $1,423 |
| Saginaw, MI | 187,688 | 90.9 | $1,141 | $151 | $1,543 |
| Muskegon, MI | 177,901 | 92.5 | $1,285 | $121 | $1,454 |
| Jackson, MI | 159,552 | 91.8 | $1,201 | $115 | $1,452 |
| Traverse City, MI | 156,972 | 93.4 | $1,436 | $160 | $1,248 |
| Monroe, MI | 156,004 | 93.5 | $1,304 | $138 | $1,439 |
| Niles, MI | 152,444 | 92.4 | $1,152 | $137 | $1,549 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 133,408 | 90.5 | $1,233 | $134 | $1,404 |
| Bay City, MI | 102,123 | 91.9 | $1,055 | $170 | $1,601 |
| Midland, MI | 83,754 | 91.9 | $1,205 | $133 | $1,500 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Michigan: South Bend, IN-MI.
Taxes in Michigan (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Michigan income tax | $1,874 | $2,937 | $4,849 | $4,097 |
| Michigan payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,373 | $4,888 | $7,367 | $8,424 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Michigan’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,937 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Michigan
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $136 | $8,621 | $160 |
| Toddler (2) | $145 | $9,188 | $160 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $135 | $8,593 | $150 |
| School-age (5–12) | $120 | $7,614 | $140 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $107 a week in Tuscola County to $228 in Washtenaw County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 83 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingham County | $198,800 | $3,640 | 1.83% |
| Wayne County | $178,500 | $2,904 | 1.63% |
| Washtenaw County | $374,100 | $5,678 | 1.52% |
| Saginaw County | $152,800 | $2,284 | 1.49% |
| Bay County | $152,200 | $2,271 | 1.49% |
| Lapeer County | $239,000 | $2,202 | 0.92% |
| Grand Traverse County | $339,400 | $3,010 | 0.89% |
| Kalkaska County | $188,900 | $1,646 | 0.87% |
| Benzie County | $285,700 | $2,262 | 0.79% |
| Leelanau County | $458,400 | $3,118 | 0.68% |
Five highest and five lowest of 30 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Michigan
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 140,323 in, 134,180 out (net +6,143).
- Florida19,282 ±4,668
- California14,005 ±4,112
- Ohio13,776 ±3,189
- Illinois12,464 ±2,739
- Indiana8,855 ±1,871
- Texas8,217 ±2,157
- Wisconsin5,826 ±1,911
- North Carolina4,166 ±1,650
Frequently asked questions
Is Michigan expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Michigan’s overall price level at 96.2 in 2024 (US = 100), the 28th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 82.3 and goods 96.0.
Does Michigan have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,937 in Michigan income tax under 2026 law (3.9% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Michigan?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Michigan?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Bay City, MI leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,601), and Ann Arbor, MI the least ($933).