A+
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
46%
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 Niles Michigan National
Cost of living8089100
Goods & Services8693100
Groceries10099100
Health care8793100
Housing5474100
Transportation9097100
Utilities101101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Niles, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Niles? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Niles stands at 80, making it 20% 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 Niles are 45.8% 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.

Everyday items like clothes, personal care products and fun activities all add up to what it costs to live. The thing is, in Niles, these goods and services are 13.8% cheaper than what people pay on average across the country. That means you can enjoy what you need and like without going broke. With these savings, you can stash more cash in your savings or use it for other money goals, which can really boost your financial health.

Is Niles Affordable?

Is Niles an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Niles, the median home price is 53.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 27.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Niles come in at $38,415, which is 30.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Niles?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Niles, the utilities index registers at 1.4% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Niles cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Niles is 10% lower than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Niles is 20% lower than the national average
  • Niles housing is 46% 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 Niles

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Compare Niles, 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$57,694$4,808$1,346$1,731
      Renters$30,123$2,510$703$904
      The affordability of the housing market in Niles, MI as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Niles homeowners, the median income is $57,694. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,346 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $30,123. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $703 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Niles National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.78$24.2614.4%
      Beauty Salon $52.07$45.5614.3%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.6%
      Movie $13.08$12.137.8%
      Bowling $10.44$18.0042.0%

      Groceries

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.31$5.848.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.62$1.573.0%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $4.96$4.930.4%
      Pizza $11.04$12.098.7%
      Beer $9.65$10.417.3%

      Health Care

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $132.22$125.685.2%
      Doctor $117.36$135.7813.6%
      Dentist $99.95$113.2911.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.40$10.652.4%
      Lipitor $356.34$468.6024.0%

      Housing

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Home Price $86,000.00$184,700.0053.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,868.87$2,346.6920.4%
      Apartment Rent $685.00$949.0027.8%

      Transportation

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.38$3.462.4%
      Tire Balancing $42.17$59.9229.6%

      Utilities

      Item Niles National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $199.24$193.992.7%
      Phone $190.02$192.251.2%
      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.
      Cassopolis, MI1,6847822.4%
      Dowagiac, MI5,6958020.4%
      South Bend, IN102,6868218.2%
      Galien, MI4498217.7%
      Elkhart, IN52,6578217.5%
      Niles, MI11,1688019.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Jefferson Hills, PA11,1661099.3%
      Summit, IL11,1711022.4%
      Lower Burrell, PA11,158954.9%
      Ionia, MI11,1788514.9%
      Weyburn, SK11,179n/a 
      Niles, MI11,1688019.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.