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Cheapest places to live in Michigan

Jackson has the lowest median listed home of the 3 Michigan cities we cover, at $254,950 (September 2026).

By Sol Lakein. Updated October 2026.

All 3, cheapest first

Ranked by median listed home. Tap a city for weather, flights and monthly costs.
  1. Downtown Jackson from the 12th floor of One Energy Plaza, JacksonPhillip L. Hofmeister / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
    1Pays you to move
    Jackson$254,950 median home
    Mortgage
    $1,401/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,063
    Prices
    8% cheaper
    See Jackson
  2. Detroit skyline, Detroit
    2Pays you to move
    Detroit$274,950 median home
    Mortgage
    $1,511/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,398
    Prices
    About the US average
    See Detroit
  3. St. Joseph North Pier lights on Lake Michigan, Southwest Michigan (Niles-Benton Harbor)See1,Do1,Teach1 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
    3Pays you to move
    Southwest Michigan (Niles-Benton Harbor)$409,450 median home
    Mortgage
    $2,250/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,063
    Prices
    8% cheaper
    See Southwest Michigan (Niles-Benton Harbor)

Monthly payment vs New York

Principal and interest on the median listed home.
Jackson$1,401/mo
Southwest Michigan, priciest we cover$2,250/mo
New York metro$4,078/mo

Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.

Programs that help you move here

Cities on this list with an active relocation or home-buying incentive.

Ranked by home price

All 3 cities in one table.
See all 3 Michigan cities, cheapest first
RankCityMedian listed homeMonthly payment2-bed rentPrice levelIncentive
1Jackson$254,950$1,401$1,06391.8Up to $60,000 toward a home
2Detroit$274,950$1,511$1,398100.3$1,000 cash
3Southwest Michigan (Niles-Benton Harbor)$409,450$2,250$1,06392.4$5,000 cash

More on Michigan

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest city to live in Michigan?

Of the cities we cover, Jackson. Its median listed home is $254,950 (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026).

Is Michigan cheap to live in?

Michigan's overall price level is 96.2, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). That is below average.

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Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED. Price level: BEA regional price parities, 2024 (US = 100). 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025. Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
  2. 2Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Prices vs US average: BEA regional price parities, 2024. 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025.
Sources for this page