A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Clawson Michigan National
Cost of living10191100
Goods & Services10096100
Groceries10199100
Health care10492100
Housing10176100
Transportation105100100
Utilities9997100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Clawson, MI

The cost of living in Clawson affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Clawson is 101, which is 1% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Clawson are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Clawson can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Clawson Affordable?

Is Clawson affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Clawson, the median home price is 2.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 1.3% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Clawson boasting a median household income of $106,265, 30.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Clawson?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Clawson, the healthcare costs are 3.8% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Clawson, the transportation index is 4.9% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Clawson, the groceries index is 1.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Clawson 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Clawson is 12% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Clawson is 1% higher than the national average
  • Clawson housing is 1% higher 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 Clawson

See all the best places to live around Clawson

Compare Clawson, MI Cost of Living

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      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$128,485$10,707$2,998$3,855
      Renters$62,570$5,214$1,460$1,877
      The affordability of the housing market in Clawson, 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 Clawson homeowners, the median income is $128,485. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,998 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $62,570. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,460 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 Clawson National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.73$27.626.8%
      Beauty Salon $62.43$51.1122.2%
      Toothpaste $4.28$4.094.6%
      Shampoo $1.57$1.541.8%
      Movie $11.35$12.8811.9%
      Yoga $23.07$19.6617.3%

      Groceries

      Item Clawson National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.54$7.702.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.76$1.665.9%
      Milk $4.87$4.732.9%
      Potatoes $5.40$5.262.7%
      Pizza $12.82$12.760.4%
      Beer $9.74$10.557.7%

      Health Care

      Item Clawson National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $92.07$140.0634.3%
      Doctor $180.95$153.8217.6%
      Dentist $140.54$123.1514.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.55$11.731.6%
      Lipitor $18.63$23.6121.1%

      Housing

      Item Clawson National avg. Difference
      Home Price $333,954.00$326,622.002.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,467.70$2,480.250.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,425.00$1,444.001.3%

      Transportation

      Item Clawson National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.19$3.064.4%
      Tire Balancing $69.21$65.216.1%

      Utilities

      Item Clawson National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.41$220.120.6%
      Phone $188.92$195.713.5%
      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.
      Highland Park, MI11,0568217.9%
      Detroit, MI692,0448515.2%
      Hamtramck, MI22,1998613.8%
      Pontiac, MI61,7648712.9%
      Center Line, MI8,3988811.6%
      Clawson, MI12,3681011.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Norton, OH12,365964.2%
      Lansing, KS12,363945.9%
      Neosho, MO12,3758317.2%
      Wellesley, ON12,358n/a 
      Babylon, NY12,37815756.9%
      Clawson, MI12,3681011.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.