A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
37%
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 Wayne Michigan National
Cost of living8989100
Goods & Services10293100
Groceries10399100
Health care10293100
Housing6374100
Transportation10097100
Utilities94101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Wayne, MI

Understanding the cost of living in Wayne 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 Wayne cost of living index is 89, which is 11% 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.

Is Wayne Affordable?

Is Wayne 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 Wayne, the median home price is 46.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 15.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Wayne come in at $47,704, which is 13.8% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wayne?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Wayne, is 37.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Wayne 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Wayne is equal to the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Wayne is 11% lower than the national average
  • Wayne housing is 37% lower than the national average
  • Michigan general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Michigan state income tax is 88% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Wayne

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Compare Wayne, 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$62,094$5,175$1,449$1,863
      Renters$33,711$2,809$787$1,011
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Wayne, MI, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Wayne, the median monthly income is $62,094 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,449 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $33,711, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $787 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne National avg. Difference
      Home Price $98,900.00$184,700.0046.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,709.07$2,346.6927.2%
      Apartment Rent $803.00$949.0015.4%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Wayne 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.
      River Rouge, MI7,4658019.9%
      Highland Park, MI10,8188218.3%
      Ecorse, MI9,4568316.8%
      Inkster, MI24,3988515.1%
      Melvindale, MI10,3008712.7%
      Wayne, MI16,8948910.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Moraga, CA16,896239139.1%
      Stafford, TX16,9041022.3%
      Boerne, TX16,90911414.3%
      Norcross, GA16,8761076.8%
      Nocatee, FL16,91413332.7%
      Wayne, MI16,8948910.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.