| Index | Howard City | Michigan | National |
| Cost of living index | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Index | Howard City | Michigan | National |
| Goods & Services index | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 91 | 88 | 100 |
| Health care index | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Housing index | 43 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation index | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities index | 99 | 99 | 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 | $43,529 | $3,627 | $1,016 | $1,306 |
| Renters | $24,688 | $2,057 | $576 | $741 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Michigan | 6% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Michigan | 4.25% | 4.25% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $16.34 | $17.49 | 6.6% |
| Beauty Salon | $34.33 | $38.17 | 10.1% |
| Toothpaste | $1.78 | $2.32 | 23.3% |
| Shampoo | $0.87 | $1.01 | 14.0% |
| Movie | $11.27 | $10.72 | 5.1% |
| Bowling | $17.00 | $13.86 | 22.6% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $3.49 | $3.90 | 10.5% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.19 | $1.40 | 14.7% |
| Milk | $1.76 | $1.96 | 10.3% |
| Potatoes | $2.92 | $3.18 | 8.3% |
| Pizza | $9.99 | $10.39 | 3.9% |
| Beer | $8.25 | $9.23 | 10.6% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $102.67 | $106.34 | 3.4% |
| Doctor | $98.67 | $115.25 | 14.4% |
| Dentist | $95.25 | $98.38 | 3.2% |
| Ibuprofen | $8.78 | $9.26 | 5.2% |
| Lipitor | $513.00 | $466.47 | 10.0% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $68,700.00 | $184,700.00 | 62.8% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $1,012.77 | $1,273.32 | 20.5% |
| Apartment Rent | $546.00 | $949.00 | 42.5% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $2.79 | $2.59 | 7.6% |
| Tire Balancing | $52.00 | $48.90 | 6.4% |
| Item | Howard City | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $167.87 | $167.60 | 0.2% |
| Phone | $178.16 | $163.42 | 9.0% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Pierson, MI | 226 | 80 | -20% |
| Lakeview, MI | 1,025 | 81 | -19% |
| Morley, MI | 665 | 81 | -19% |
| Kent City, MI | 1,186 | 82 | -18% |
| Greenville, MI | 8,429 | 84 | -16% |
| Howard City, MI | 1,799 | 81 | -19% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mercer, PA | 1,799 | 89 | -11% |
| Pine Canyon, CA | 1,799 | 115 | 15% |
| Vonore, TN | 1,799 | 84 | -16% |
| Owens Cross Roads, AL | 1,799 | 93 | -7% |
| Twin Lakes, VA | 1,799 | 108 | 8% |
| Howard City, MI | 1,799 | 81 | -19% |