A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Fraser Michigan National
Cost of living9691100
Goods & Services10096100
Groceries10199100
Health care10492100
Housing8376100
Transportation105100100
Utilities9997100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Fraser, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Fraser? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Fraser stands at 96, making it 4% 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.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Fraser are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Fraser can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Fraser Affordable?

Is Fraser 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 Fraser, the median home price is 14.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 23.1% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Fraser come in at $85,502, which is 5.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fraser?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Fraser, the housing index is 17.2% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Fraser, the transportation index stands at 4.9% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Fraser, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 4.25%.

Where is the Data From?

The Fraser cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Fraser is 6% higher than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Fraser is 4% lower than the national average
  • Fraser housing is 17% 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 Fraser

See all the best places to live around Fraser

Compare Fraser, MI Cost of Living

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      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$108,157$9,013$2,523$3,245
      Renters$39,814$3,318$929$1,195
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Fraser, 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 Fraser, homeowners have a median income of $108,157. Using that number, a maximum of $2,523 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $39,814, which means there is a maximum of $929 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 Fraser National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.73$27.626.8%
      Beauty Salon $62.43$51.1122.2%
      Toothpaste $4.28$4.094.6%
      Shampoo $1.57$1.541.8%
      Movie $11.35$12.8811.9%
      Yoga $23.07$19.6617.3%

      Groceries

      Item Fraser National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.54$7.702.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.76$1.665.9%
      Milk $4.87$4.732.9%
      Potatoes $5.40$5.262.7%
      Pizza $12.82$12.760.4%
      Beer $9.74$10.557.7%

      Health Care

      Item Fraser National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $92.07$140.0634.3%
      Doctor $180.95$153.8217.6%
      Dentist $140.54$123.1514.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.55$11.731.6%
      Lipitor $18.63$23.6121.1%

      Housing

      Item Fraser National avg. Difference
      Home Price $278,590.00$326,622.0014.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,467.70$2,480.250.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,111.00$1,444.0023.1%

      Transportation

      Item Fraser National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.19$3.064.4%
      Tire Balancing $69.21$65.216.1%

      Utilities

      Item Fraser National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.41$220.120.6%
      Phone $188.92$195.713.5%
      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, MI11,0568217.9%
      Detroit, MI692,0448515.2%
      Hamtramck, MI22,1998613.8%
      Center Line, MI8,3988811.6%
      Hazel Park, MI16,8459010.4%
      Fraser, MI14,815964.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gaspé, QC14,815n/a 
      Midlothian, IL14,8171022.3%
      Dayton, NV14,81111111.0%
      Morris, IL14,819990.9%
      Destin, FL14,81012626.3%
      Fraser, MI14,815964.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.