A+
0%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
15%
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 Jenison Michigan National
Cost of living10089100
Goods & Services9093100
Groceries9599100
Health care9493100
Housing11574100
Transportation9597100
Utilities102101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Jenison, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Jenison? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Jenison stands at 100, making it 0% equal to 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.

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

Is Jenison Affordable?

Is Jenison affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Jenison, for instance, where the median home price falls 1.3% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 54.3% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Jenison flaunting a median household income of $71,720, 29.6% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Jenison?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Jenison, the utilities index registers 2.3% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Jenison cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Jenison is 12% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Jenison is equal to the national average
  • Jenison housing is 15% 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 Jenison

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Compare Jenison, 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$80,138$6,678$1,870$2,404
      Renters$36,348$3,029$848$1,091
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Jenison, MI, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Jenison have a median income of $80,138. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,870 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $36,348, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $848.

      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 Jenison 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 Jenison 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 Jenison 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 Jenison National avg. Difference
      Home Price $182,300.00$184,700.001.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,520.64$2,346.697.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,464.00$949.0054.3%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Jenison 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.
      Wyoming, MI75,9999010.4%
      Beechwood, MI2,9669010.2%
      Coopersville, MI4,388909.8%
      Zeeland, MI5,540918.9%
      Cutlerville, MI17,988928.1%
      Jenison, MI17,8511000.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Westerly, RI17,84212121.1%
      Canby, OR17,86012827.8%
      Dover, NJ17,86611514.8%
      Radford, VA17,833955.1%
      St. Michael, MN17,8711099.4%
      Jenison, MI17,8511000.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.