A+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
44%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Melvindale Michigan National
Cost of living8789100
Goods & Services10293100
Groceries10399100
Health care10293100
Housing5674100
Transportation10097100
Utilities94101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Melvindale, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Melvindale? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Melvindale stands at 87, making it 13% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Melvindale are 43.7% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.

Is Melvindale Affordable?

Is Melvindale an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Melvindale is 60.1% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 5.5% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Melvindale has a median household income of $37,438, which is 32.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Melvindale?

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Melvindale, the groceries index registers 3.4% higher than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Melvindale, the housing index is 43.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Melvindale displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Melvindale is 2% lower than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Melvindale is 13% lower than the national average
  • Melvindale housing is 44% lower than the national average
  • Michigan general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Michigan state income tax is 64% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Melvindale

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Compare Melvindale, MI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$46,027$3,836$1,074$1,381
      Renters$30,363$2,530$708$911
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Melvindale is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Melvindale has a median income of about $46,027 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,074 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $30,363. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $708 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Michigan Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Michigan 6% 6%

      Michigan Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Michigan 4.25% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      Haircut $16.80$24.2630.8%
      Beauty Salon $24.78$45.5645.6%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.13$1.2811.8%
      Movie $12.99$12.137.1%
      Bowling $12.33$18.0031.5%

      Groceries

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $4.80$4.932.8%
      Pizza $8.99$12.0925.6%
      Beer $9.04$10.4113.2%

      Health Care

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $85.00$125.6832.4%
      Doctor $103.33$135.7823.9%
      Dentist $91.00$113.2919.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.22$10.654.1%
      Lipitor $490.11$468.604.6%

      Housing

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      Home Price $73,700.00$184,700.0060.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,709.07$2,346.6927.2%
      Apartment Rent $897.00$949.005.5%

      Transportation

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.35$3.463.1%
      Tire Balancing $56.00$59.926.5%

      Utilities

      Item Melvindale National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $219.20$193.9913.0%
      Phone $184.44$192.254.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      River Rouge, MI7,4658019.9%
      Highland Park, MI10,8188218.3%
      Ecorse, MI9,4568316.8%
      Detroit, MI672,3518415.5%
      Inkster, MI24,3988515.1%
      Melvindale, MI10,3008712.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Forest Acres, SC10,3001021.6%
      Bluffton, IN10,2988514.5%
      Cottage Grove, OR10,3021054.7%
      Nanticoke, PA10,2968514.5%
      Bonham, TX10,295964.0%
      Melvindale, MI10,3008712.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.