State relocation profile · Federal data
Michigan
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Michigan from federal sources.
- 96.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,113
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,101
- Median salary
- 50.6
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Michigan ranks #28 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (50.6/100, D), with its strongest marks in schools and childcare.
- #28 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 50.6
- Life Score · D
- 96.2
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $70,101
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: environment (8/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Michigan ranks #28 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 96.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,113/mo, median salary $70,101; Life Score 50.6/100 (D), strongest in schools and childcare.
Signature: Michigan lists 15 MSAs in this dataset, a dense metro book for state-level averages.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 96.2 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,113/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $70,101.
Composite Life Score 50.6/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#28 of 51).
Metro book is dense (15 MSAs); drill a named metro before treating the state average as a destination.
Life Score plate
Sheet MI · Michigan 50.6/100 · D · #28 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-SCHOOLS · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-MID #28/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.0 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 96.2
- LEAD-SCHOOLS Lead · schools
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Virginia (+ 0.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Michigan
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Michigan on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Michigan childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Michigan (infant $7,444/yr leads the book).
Michigan Life Score breakdown
Michigan composites to 50.6/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #28 of 51.
Michigan - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
84 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
82 /100
- Rent
Rent
64 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
54 /100
- Wages
Wages
52 /100
- Safety 16
Safety
16 /100
- Environment 8
Environment
8 /100
What this shows Michigan's strongest dimensions are schools and childcare; its weakest among scored dims is environment at 8/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Michigan on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Michigan on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Michigan
Explore detailed relocation data for 15 metropolitan areas in Michigan. Michigan contains 15 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Ann Arbor metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Michigan cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Michigan wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.