A+
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
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 Battle Creek Michigan National
Cost of living8389100
Goods & Services9093100
Groceries9599100
Health care9493100
Housing5974100
Transportation9597100
Utilities102101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Battle Creek, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Battle Creek? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Battle Creek stands at 83, making it 17% lower than 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.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Battle Creek stands out by reporting housing costs that are 40.9% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Battle Creek?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Battle Creek. The results indicated that 75% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 25% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Battle Creek Affordable?

Is Battle Creek 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 Battle Creek, the median home price is 50.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 18.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Battle Creek come in at $42,285, which is 23.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Battle Creek?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Battle Creek, the utilities index registers at 2.3% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Battle Creek, the groceries index registers 5.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Battle Creek, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Battle Creek is 7% lower than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Battle Creek is 17% lower than the national average
  • Battle Creek housing is 41% 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 Battle Creek

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Compare Battle Creek, 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$60,066$5,006$1,401$1,802
      Renters$25,953$2,163$606$779
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Battle Creek, 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 Battle Creek have a median income of $60,066. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,401 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $25,953, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $606.

      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 Battle Creek 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 Battle Creek 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 Battle Creek 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 Battle Creek National avg. Difference
      Home Price $91,700.00$184,700.0050.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,520.64$2,346.697.4%
      Apartment Rent $770.00$949.0018.9%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Battle Creek 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.
      Brownlee Park, MI1,9647921.2%
      Galesburg, MI2,2017920.8%
      Burlington, MI2998020.0%
      Springfield, MI5,1888119.2%
      Bellevue, MI1,1528317.4%
      Battle Creek, MI51,0848316.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Glendora, CA51,08717070.2%
      Wheaton, MD51,19113635.6%
      Florissant, MO51,2208712.8%
      Grand Island, NE51,2508812.5%
      Wylie, TX51,25112121.5%
      Battle Creek, MI51,0848316.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.