| Index | Lakes of the North | Michigan | National |
| Cost of living | 88 | 89 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Housing | 69 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $53,273 | $4,439 | $1,243 | $1,598 |
| Renters | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Michigan | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Michigan | 4.25% | 4.25% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $20.11 | $24.26 | 17.1% |
| Beauty Salon | $30.55 | $45.56 | 32.9% |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.70 | 0.7% |
| Shampoo | $1.29 | $1.28 | 1.0% |
| Movie | $14.24 | $12.13 | 17.4% |
| Bowling | $17.83 | $18.00 | 0.9% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $6.10 | $5.84 | 4.4% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 | 9.5% |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 | 1.3% |
| Potatoes | $4.35 | $4.93 | 11.9% |
| Pizza | $10.54 | $12.09 | 12.8% |
| Beer | $8.87 | $10.41 | 14.8% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $78.75 | $125.68 | 37.3% |
| Doctor | $157.90 | $135.78 | 16.3% |
| Dentist | $104.06 | $113.29 | 8.1% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.58 | $10.65 | 0.7% |
| Lipitor | $357.09 | $468.60 | 23.8% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $126,800.00 | $184,700.00 | 31.3% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $2,027.96 | $2,346.69 | 13.6% |
| Apartment Rent | $0.00 | $949.00 | 100.0% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 | 4.2% |
| Tire Balancing | $63.04 | $59.92 | 5.2% |
| Item | Lakes of the North | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $191.22 | $193.99 | 1.4% |
| Phone | $185.40 | $192.25 | 3.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Alba, MI | 455 | 76 | 24.1% |
| Bear Lake village, MI | 261 | 81 | 19.4% |
| Bear Lake, MI | 371 | 84 | 16.3% |
| Mancelona, MI | 1,708 | 84 | 15.6% |
| Gaylord, MI | 3,644 | 85 | 14.6% |
| Lakes of the North, MI | 970 | 88 | 11.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Klamath, CA | 970 | 102 | 2.5% |
| Oaktown, IN | 970 | 84 | 15.6% |
| Spearville, KS | 970 | 87 | 13.1% |
| Northfield, MA | 970 | 114 | 14.5% |
| Copan, OK | 970 | 83 | 16.8% |
| Lakes of the North, MI | 970 | 88 | 11.8% |
Here are the best places to live in Michigan
10 Best cities in Michigan for employment
See the best places to live in & around Lakes of the North
These are the 10 most affordable cities in Michigan