A+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
9%
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 Dearborn Michigan National
Cost of living9891100
Goods & Services10096100
Groceries10199100
Health care10492100
Housing9176100
Transportation105100100
Utilities9997100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Dearborn, MI

Knowing the cost of living in Dearborn 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 Dearborn stands at 98, marking it 2% lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Dearborn closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Dearborn can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Dearborn Affordable?

Wondering if Dearborn is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Dearborn, for example, the median home price is 14.4% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 4.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Dearborn boasting a median household income of $84,669, which is 4.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Dearborn?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Dearborn, healthcare costs are 3.8% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Dearborn 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Dearborn is 8% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Dearborn is 2% lower than the national average
  • Dearborn housing is 9% 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 Dearborn

See all the best places to live around Dearborn

Compare Dearborn, 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$97,796$8,150$2,282$2,934
      Renters$53,087$4,424$1,239$1,593
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Dearborn, MI, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Dearborn homeowners, is $97,796. This would allow for a maximum of $2,282 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $53,087 which would result in a maximum of $1,239 to be spent on rental 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 Dearborn 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 Dearborn 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 Dearborn 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 Dearborn National avg. Difference
      Home Price $279,459.00$326,622.0014.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,467.70$2,480.250.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,514.00$1,444.004.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Dearborn 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.
      River Rouge, MI7,7568019.6%
      Highland Park, MI11,0568217.9%
      Ecorse, MI9,6848416.4%
      Detroit, MI692,0448515.2%
      Inkster, MI25,3338614.5%
      Dearborn, MI97,662981.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Concord, NC97,6081043.8%
      Yakima, WA97,4341055.0%
      Livonia, MI97,3921055.1%
      New Bedford, MA97,31511211.5%
      Sunrise, FL97,29711312.5%
      Dearborn, MI97,662981.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.