Home › MI › Detroit, MI Cost of living in Detroit, MI Livability score 61 · cost-of-living index 98.2 (US = 100)
How Detroit compares Where Detroit falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $269k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $269k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $163 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $163 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.43% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.43% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 460 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 460 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 83° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 83° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 16° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 16° Map of Detroit Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 98.2 metro-area #127 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.9 metro-area #135 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.59 metro-area #126 of 200 Median household income $72,456 metro-area #93 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $42,843 metro-area #63 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 40.2 years metro-area #147 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 34.1% metro-area #94 of 200 Foreign-born residents 10.3% metro-area #71 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.9% metro-area #32 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 6.60% metro-area #175 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +1.7% metro-area #142 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $269,080 metro-area #57 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.7× metro-area #29 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.8% metro-area #59 of 200 Price per square foot $163 metro-area #74 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,500 metro-area #77 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 13,350 Median days on market 10 metro-area #52 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% state #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.43% metro-area #141 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,197 metro-area #129 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.9 years metro-area #125 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.3% metro-area #25 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 84 metro-area #60 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 state #99 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $200 state #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.61% of value (~$171/yr) state #109 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 16 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #147 of 200 Commute by driving alone 74.7% metro-area #92 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 39.3% metro-area #161 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.4¢/kWh state #141 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal state #111 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $74 state #28 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,700 state #175 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 95.7 — Relatively High metro-area #153 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 55 metro-area #175 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 metro-area #14 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 87% state #151 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,600 metro-area #181 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 8 metro-area #38 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 83°F metro-area #21 of 200 Avg winter low 16°F metro-area #168 of 200 Annual precipitation 34.3" metro-area #55 of 200 Annual snowfall 45.0" metro-area #157 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 53% metro-area #168 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 460 state #143 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,600 state #37 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 43 metro-area #120 of 200 Parks 40 Hiking areas 10 Golf courses 7 Shooting ranges 5 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Detroit Major public and private employers in the Detroit, MI area.
Salaries by occupation in Detroit Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $160,820 Marketing Managers $135,720 Financial Managers $135,320 Pharmacists $135,000 Human Resources Managers $128,590 Lawyers $128,370 Physician Assistants $128,230 Software Developers $107,490 Construction Managers $107,310 General & Operations Managers $102,420 Mechanical Engineers $101,230 Physical Therapists $99,550 Data Scientists $96,970 Web Developers $89,530 Registered Nurses $83,900 Civil Engineers $82,920 Accountants & Auditors $79,320 Dental Hygienists $78,640 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $78,210 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,610 Electricians $67,820 Real Estate Sales Agents $63,910 Elementary School Teachers $63,870 Carpenters $61,000 Graphic Designers $57,050 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,770 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,720 Medical Assistants $37,920
Cities in the Detroit area Detroit (636,787) → Warren (138,588) → Sterling Heights (133,744) → Dearborn (108,414) → Livonia (94,928) → Troy (87,170) → Westland (84,806) → Farmington Hills (83,562) → Southfield (76,107) → Rochester Hills (76,041) → Novi (65,870) → Taylor (62,937) → Dearborn Heights (62,474) → Pontiac (61,965) → St. Clair Shores (58,656) → Royal Oak (58,053) → Roseville (47,476) → Lincoln Park (39,807) → Eastpointe (34,087) → Southgate (29,948) → Oak Park (29,495) → Port Huron (28,881) → Madison Heights (28,521) → Allen Park (28,395) → Hamtramck (27,842) → Garden City (27,203) → Inkster (25,839) → Romulus (25,055) → Wyandotte (24,857) → Auburn Hills (24,593) → Birmingham (21,738) → Ferndale (19,264) → Trenton (18,420) → Wayne (17,568) → Wixom (17,007) → Grosse Pointe Woods (16,338) → Mount Clemens (15,679) → Harper Woods (15,296) → Berkley (15,150) → Hazel Park (15,065) → Fraser (14,668) → Rochester (12,978) → Woodhaven (12,867) → Melvindale (12,639) → Riverview (12,390) → New Baltimore (12,104) → South Lyon (11,788) → Grosse Pointe Park (11,513) → Farmington (11,486) → Clawson (11,388) → Beverly Hills (10,550) → Howell (10,067) → Grosse Pointe Farms (10,018) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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