A+
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
42%
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 Sturgis Michigan National
Cost of living8389100
Goods & Services9093100
Groceries9599100
Health care9493100
Housing5874100
Transportation9597100
Utilities102101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sturgis, MI

Knowing the cost of living in Sturgis allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Sturgis stands at 83, marking it 17% lower than the national average.

Sturgis housing costs are 42.4% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Sturgis residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

Is Sturgis Affordable?

Is Sturgis 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 Sturgis, the median home price is 51.6% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 20.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Sturgis come in at $42,668, which is 22.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sturgis?

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.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Sturgis, the general sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates begin at 4.25%.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Sturgis, the housing index stands at 42.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Sturgis 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 Sturgis is 7% lower than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Sturgis is 17% lower than the national average
  • Sturgis housing is 42% 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 Sturgis

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Compare Sturgis, 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$55,500$4,625$1,295$1,665
      Renters$27,783$2,315$648$834
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Sturgis 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. Sturgis has a median income of about $55,500 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,295 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $27,783. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $648 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 Sturgis National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.53$24.261.1%
      Beauty Salon $56.27$45.5623.5%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.8%
      Shampoo $1.40$1.289.1%
      Movie $11.22$12.137.5%
      Bowling $22.17$18.0023.1%

      Groceries

      Item Sturgis National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.51$5.845.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.69$1.577.7%
      Milk $4.84$4.673.6%
      Potatoes $4.77$4.933.3%
      Pizza $10.99$12.099.1%
      Beer $9.38$10.419.9%

      Health Care

      Item Sturgis National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $91.40$125.6827.3%
      Doctor $139.14$135.782.5%
      Dentist $120.35$113.296.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.88$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $504.80$468.607.7%

      Housing

      Item Sturgis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $89,400.00$184,700.0051.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,520.64$2,346.697.4%
      Apartment Rent $751.00$949.0020.9%

      Transportation

      Item Sturgis National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.42$3.461.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.57$59.921.1%

      Utilities

      Item Sturgis National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.47$193.997.0%
      Phone $184.98$192.253.8%
      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.
      Sherwood, MI5077821.9%
      Burr Oak, MI7988020.5%
      Bronson, MI2,0618119.4%
      Lagrange, IN2,7518416.1%
      Constantine, MI2,2228118.7%
      Sturgis, MI10,8538317.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vermillion, SD10,8528910.9%
      Shiloh, PA10,8501044.2%
      Galena Park, TX10,8488811.7%
      Heath, OH10,847918.7%
      North Lindenhurst, NY10,86013433.6%
      Sturgis, MI10,8538317.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.