CostIndexUSA

Flint, MI vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is slightly cheaper than Flint — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Flint, you would need $78,200 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.1%
Flint
74
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Flint
93.7
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Flint
104.5
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Flint
94.6
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities1.3%
Flint
97.1
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Flint to see what you'd need to earn in Saginaw to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 93) = salary × 0.9774. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Flint has 14.1% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

Income & Job Market

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.