The ACTUAL Cost Of Living In Southeast Michigan - In this video, I tell you about the real cost of living and moving to southeast Michigan. When you move to southeast Michigan you are going to need to know what to budget for and what the cost of living in Michigan is ACTUALLY going to be. I touch on the cost of housing in SE Michigan, home prices, property taxes, utilities, groceries' and a few other expenses. If you're planning on relocating to Southeast MI, make sure you watch this video first.

This blog is a direct transcript from the video below. This comes in 3 versions: You are able to watch the video, read the blog for your convenience or listen to the audio experience (which is linked under the video below).

Cost of Living in Southeast Michigan: What It Really Costs to Live Here

One of the biggest questions I get from people moving from out of state—or even from other parts of Michigan—is:

“What does it actually cost to live in southeast Michigan?”

So let’s break it all down.

When I say southeast Michigan, I’m talking about these seven counties:

• Livingston
• Oakland
• Washtenaw
• Macomb
• Wayne
• Monroe
• St. Clair

There are a lot of different “versions” of what Southeast Michigan includes depending on who you ask, but for this breakdown I’m going off the regional planning definition. I’ll touch on rent prices, home prices, property taxes, utilities, moving costs, and day-to-day living so you can get a realistic picture of what life (and your wallet) might look like here.

Rent Prices in Southeast Michigan

First up: rent.

Rents have increased in recent years just like they have across the country, but they’re still generally more affordable than many coastal or sunbelt markets. To keep things simple and relevant, I’ll use three of the most popular counties: Livingston, Oakland, and Wayne.

💡 Note: These are rough averages and “low side” ranges—actual prices will vary by city, neighborhood, condition, and type of rental.

Livingston County Rent

3 bed, 1.5 bath home

• Average: Just over $2,000/month
• Lower range (25th percentile): Around $1,605/month

2 bed, 1 bath home

• Average: About $1,182/month
• Lower range: Around $985/month

Oakland County Rent

3 bed, 1.5 bath home

• Average: Just over $2,000/month
• Lower range: Around $1,592/month

2 bed, 1 bath home

• Average: Just under $1,300/month
• Lower range: Around $1,066/month

Wayne County Rent

(Covers everything from the Novi/Northville border east toward Dearborn and the broader metro area.)

3 bed, 1.5 bath home

• Average: About $1,468/month
• Lower range: Around $1,148/month

2 bed, 1 bath home

• Average: About $1,082/month
• Lower range: Around $895/month

Buying a Home in Southeast Michigan

If you’re thinking long-term, the next question is usually:

“What do homes actually cost to buy in Southeast Michigan?”

Using recent multiple listing service (MLS) data, here’s a high-level look at average sale prices in the seven southeast Michigan counties.

Average Home Prices by County

Among the seven:

• Washtenaw County (think Ann Arbor and surrounding areas) is on the higher side, with an average sale price in the low $400,000s.
• Wayne County tends to be on the lower side, with an average closer to about $180,000.

The other counties fall in between those two, with Livingston, Oakland, and Macomb generally coming in higher than Monroe and St. Clair, depending on the exact city or township.

Price Per Square Foot

When you look at price per square foot, you really see the differences:

• Some counties—especially those with university cities, highly developed suburbs, or strong downtowns—carry a higher price per square foot.
• Others offer more space for less, but might come with longer commutes or fewer big-city amenities.

Bottom line:

👉 You can’t just look at the “Southeast Michigan” average and assume that applies everywhere. Ann Arbor, Birmingham, and Novi are going to look very different from, say, parts of Monroe or St. Clair County.

Property Taxes in Southeast Michigan

Home prices don’t tell the whole story. In Michigan, property taxes play a major role in your monthly budget.

Michigan uses an effective real property tax rate that varies by county, city, township, and school district. Across the state, the average effective rate is roughly in the mid-1% range of your taxable value.

A few key points:

• Your taxable value is typically about 50% of the home’s market value when you purchase it (subject to state rules and annual caps afterward).
• A “mill” equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of taxable value.
• Different communities have different millage rates, which stack on top of each other (county, city/township, school, special assessments, etc.).

If you want to estimate your taxes on a specific home, use:

• The local millage rate, and
• 50% of the purchase price as a rough starting taxable value estimate

Then:
Taxable value × millage rate (as a decimal) = Approximate annual property tax.

For example, if the taxable value is $150,000 and the combined millage is around 40 mills (0.04):

• $150,000 × 0.04 = $6,000/year in property taxes (about $500/month before escrow adjustments).

I’ll drop a link to the Michigan Property Tax Estimator at the end of this post so you can play around with your own scenarios.

Homeowners Insurance in Michigan

Another cost a lot of people forget to factor in is homeowners insurance.

In Michigan, the average cost of homeowners insurance for a home valued around $250,000 lands roughly in the low $1,000s per year. That number can go up or down based on:

• Age and condition of the home
• Roof, electrical, and plumbing updates
• Proximity to fire services or fire hydrants
• Claim history
• Coverage limits and deductibles

If you’re buying in Southeast Michigan, it’s a good idea to get real quotes early in your home search, especially if you’re choosing between older homes, newer construction, and lakefront properties.

How Much Does It Cost to Move to Southeast Michigan?

If you’re moving from out of state, the next question is:

“How much is it going to cost just to get there?”

Using a few example routes based on online truck rentals (without committing to exact real-time quotes), here’s a rough feel for costs:

Example: Moving from Silicon Valley, California to Southeast Michigan

10' Truck (studio or 1-bedroom size)

• Around $2,650–$2,800
• Does not include gas

With environmental fees and basic damage coverage, that total can creep up toward the high $2,000s.

26' Truck (3–4 bedroom home)

• Just over $7,000
• Again, that’s before gas and extras

If you want movers to help pack or load:

• In higher-cost areas like coastal California, you might see $250–$350/hour for a crew.
• In Michigan, more like $150–$250/hour, depending on the company and services.

Example: Moving from Tampa, Florida

• 10' truck: Roughly $700 range
• 26' truck: Roughly $900+ range

Example: Moving from New York

• 10' truck: Around $1,100–$1,200
• 26' truck: Around $2,300+

A full-service cross-country moving company (where they pack, load, transport, and unload your stuff) can easily land anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000+, depending on distance and how much you’re moving.

If you’re on a budget, a DIY move with a truck rental plus some help at each end is usually the cheaper way to go—but it’s also more work and time.

Utilities in Southeast Michigan

Utilities are where the Midwest weather really shows up in your budget.

Electricity

• Average residential electric use: around 1,000 kWh per month
• Average rate: around $0.18 per kWh
• Rough monthly bill: about $180–$190

This lines up pretty well with what I see for many 3–4 bedroom homes, depending on insulation, age of the home, and how much you love your AC.

Natural Gas

• Average monthly gas bill: roughly $60–$70

In the winter, gas bills will usually climb (heating), while electric bills dip a bit. In the summer, the reverse tends to happen when you’re running central air.

Water & Sewer

This will vary depending on whether you’re on city water and sewer or well and septic:

• City water: Often around $25–$35/month for basic usage
• City sewer: Often $15–$20/month, usually combined with your water bill

If you’re on well and septic:

• Water itself is technically “free,” but
• You’ll pay $200–$300 every 3–5 years to have your septic tank pumped
• And you’re responsible for maintenance and repairs

Internet

• Average internet bill: around $55–$60/month for base plans
• Faster or fiber plans: typically $80–$120/month, depending on speed and provider

Personally, I pay about $55/month for a 100 Mbps plan with a major carrier, and it handles streaming, work, and normal usage just fine—but heavier users might want more speed.

Phone

Phone bills can be all over the place depending on:

• Carrier
• Number of lines
• Whether you’re financing a device

A rough “typical” phone bill for many households falls around $100–$130/month total, but that might be split among several people. On a multi-line plan with a paid-off phone, your individual share can be lower.

Groceries and Everyday Food Costs

Groceries are always one of those “it depends” categories, but we can still ballpark things.

For a single adult in Southeast Michigan:

• Rough yearly grocery spend: around $3,000–$3,500
• That’s about $250–$300/month, depending on what and where you shop

For two adults (like me and my fiancée), shopping a mix of Costco, Kroger, and Meijer, focusing on somewhat healthier options and better-quality items:

• We typically spend around $120–$150/week
• So roughly $500–$600/month

If you cook at home a lot and don’t lean heavily on convenience foods, you can usually keep costs on the more reasonable side.

FAQ: Cost of Living in Southeast Michigan

Q: Is Southeast Michigan more or less expensive than other parts of the U.S.?
A: Generally, Southeast Michigan is more affordable than many coastal and sunbelt states, especially when it comes to home prices. Property taxes and insurance still matter, but your overall housing cost is often lower than in high-cost metros.

Q: Which counties in Southeast Michigan are the most expensive for housing?
A: Washtenaw, Oakland, and some parts of Livingston and Macomb tend to have higher average prices, especially in popular cities and suburbs. Wayne, Monroe, and St. Clair often offer more budget-friendly options, depending on the area.

Q: How much do I need to make to live comfortably in Southeast Michigan?
A: It depends on your lifestyle, debt, and housing choice. But many people find that a combined household income that might barely scrape by in a high-cost coastal city stretches much further here—especially if you keep your housing costs reasonable.

Q: Are property taxes really that high in Michigan?
A: Michigan’s effective property tax rate is similar to or slightly higher than the national average, but your actual bill will depend heavily on the community, millage rate, and purchase price. It’s important to look at both home price and tax rate together when comparing areas.

Q: Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Southeast Michigan?
A: In many cases, if you plan to stay 5+ years and can qualify for a good mortgage, buying can be more cost-effective long-term—especially as rents continue to rise. But if you’re unsure about your timeline or need flexibility, renting can still make sense.

Q: How much should I budget for utilities in a typical 3–4 bedroom home?
A: As a rough estimate, budget around:

• $175–$200/month for electric
• $60–$80/month for gas
• $30–$60/month for water/sewer (if applicable)
• $60–$120/month for internet

So somewhere in the $325–$450/month range total, depending on season and usage.

Q: Are moving costs to Southeast Michigan really that high?
A: Cross-country moves add up quickly—truck rentals, gas, hotels, packing supplies, and movers can easily hit several thousand dollars. If you’re moving from the West Coast or Northeast, it’s pretty normal to see totals in the $3,000–$10,000+ range depending on how much help you hire.

Q: Is Southeast Michigan a good value overall?
A: For a lot of people, yes. You get:

• A wide range of home prices and lifestyles (urban, suburban, rural, lakefront)
• Reasonable commute times compared to many big metros
• Access to major job markets, universities, healthcare, and entertainment

If you’re willing to look at more than one county or city, you can usually find a good balance of affordability, lifestyle, and amenities.

MENTIONED LINKS 🔗

→Michigan Property Tax Estimator: https://bit.ly/3fLN1CM

→Michigan Property Tax Video: https://youtu.be/EjuHrXPI8gc

Cheers,

Andrew