A+
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
19%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Warren Michigan National
Cost of living9589100
Goods & Services10293100
Groceries10399100
Health care10293100
Housing8174100
Transportation10097100
Utilities94101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Warren, MI

Understanding the cost of living in Warren can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Warren cost of living index is 95, which is 5% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

The cost of living in Warren is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Warren Affordable?

Is Warren 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 Warren, the median home price is 28% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Warren come in at $51,796, which is 6.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Warren?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Warren, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 4.25%.

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 Warren, healthcare costs are 2.2% higher than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Warren, the groceries index is 3.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Warren 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Warren Area
Search Homes for Sale in Warren, MI

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Warren is 6% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Warren is 5% lower than the national average
  • Warren housing is 19% 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 Warren

See all the best places to live around Warren

Compare Warren, MI Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Warren?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Warren?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Warren poll results

      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$61,347$5,112$1,431$1,841
      Renters$33,565$2,797$783$1,007
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Warren, MI, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Warren, homeowners have a median income of $61,347. Using that number, a maximum of $1,431 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $33,565, which means there is a maximum of $783 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Warren National avg. Difference
      Haircut $16.80$24.2630.8%
      Beauty Salon $24.78$45.5645.6%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.13$1.2811.8%
      Movie $12.99$12.137.1%
      Bowling $12.33$18.0031.5%

      Groceries

      Item Warren National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.75$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $4.80$4.932.8%
      Pizza $8.99$12.0925.6%
      Beer $9.04$10.4113.2%

      Health Care

      Item Warren National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $85.00$125.6832.4%
      Doctor $103.33$135.7823.9%
      Dentist $91.00$113.2919.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.22$10.654.1%
      Lipitor $490.11$468.604.6%

      Housing

      Item Warren National avg. Difference
      Home Price $132,900.00$184,700.0028.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,709.07$2,346.6927.2%
      Apartment Rent $962.00$949.001.4%

      Transportation

      Item Warren National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.35$3.463.1%
      Tire Balancing $56.00$59.926.5%

      Utilities

      Item Warren National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $219.20$193.9913.0%
      Phone $184.44$192.254.1%
      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, MI10,8188218.3%
      Detroit, MI672,3518415.5%
      Inkster, MI24,3988515.1%
      Hamtramck, MI21,7048614.3%
      Pontiac, MI59,7148613.5%
      Warren, MI134,188955.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Columbia, SC134,0571000.1%
      Gainesville, FL133,611954.8%
      Coral Springs, FL133,37012929.2%
      Hampton, VA135,1691022.5%
      Cedar Rapids, IA133,125937.1%
      Warren, MI134,188955.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.