A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
23%
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 Mount Pleasant Michigan National
Cost of living8989100
Goods & Services9093100
Groceries9599100
Health care9493100
Housing7774100
Transportation9597100
Utilities102101100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mount Pleasant, MI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Mount Pleasant? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Mount Pleasant stands at 89, making it 11% 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.

Is Mount Pleasant Affordable?

Is Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant, the median home price is 23.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 20% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Mount Pleasant come in at $39,485, which is 28.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mount Pleasant?

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Mount Pleasant, the general sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates begin at 4.25%.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

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 Mount Pleasant, the transportation index stands at 5.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Mount Pleasant 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Mount Pleasant is 1% lower than the Michigan average
  • The cost of living in Mount Pleasant is 11% lower than the national average
  • Mount Pleasant housing is 23% 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 Mount Pleasant

See all the best places to live around Mount Pleasant

Compare Mount Pleasant, 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$68,835$5,736$1,606$2,065
      Renters$24,725$2,060$577$742
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Mount Pleasant is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Mount Pleasant has a median income of about $68,835 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,606 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $24,725. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $577 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant National avg. Difference
      Home Price $140,900.00$184,700.0023.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,520.64$2,346.697.4%
      Apartment Rent $759.00$949.0020.0%

      Transportation

      Item Mount Pleasant National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.42$3.461.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.57$59.921.1%

      Utilities

      Item Mount Pleasant 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.
      Edmore, MI1,2327921.3%
      Coleman, MI1,2357921.1%
      Rosebush, MI4288020.1%
      Breckenridge, MI1,4288119.4%
      Weidman, MI1,2658118.9%
      Mount Pleasant, MI25,2908911.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Clinton, IA25,2908614.4%
      Salem, VA25,2901010.6%
      Prince Edward County, ON25,289n/a 
      El Cerrito, CA25,280201100.8%
      Franklin, IN25,276936.8%
      Mount Pleasant, MI25,2908911.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.