Cost of Living in Monroe, MI
Monroe, MI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Monroe, MI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Monroe, MI?
With a price level of 93.5 (U.S. average = 100), Monroe, MI is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 25% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 6% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Monroe, MI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.5 | −6.5% |
| Housing | 74.6 | −25.4% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Other services | 99.6 | −0.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Monroe, MI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $914 | $36,560/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,011 | $40,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,326 | $53,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,605 | $64,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,147 | $85,880/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Monroe, MI
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Monroe, MI | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,400 | $30,892 |
| $60,000 | $56,100 | $45,123 |
| $80,000 | $74,800 | $58,524 |
| $100,000 | $93,500 | $70,884 |
| $150,000 | $140,200 | $101,385 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Michigan 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Monroe, MI's median wage of $46,240 takes home about $3,135 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,011, which is 32% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,124 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Monroe, MI
- Federal income tax$3,369
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,867
- Medicare (1.45%)$670
- Michigan income tax$1,714
- Take-home pay$37,619
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Pay and living costs in Michigan cities
Half of Michigan’s 4,403,730 workers earn less than $49,270 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,070–$77,910 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Lansing, MI stretches a paycheck furthest, while Flint, MI is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $52,080 | 100.3 | $1,128 | 32% | $2,377 | $41,939 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $47,570 | 95.5 | $1,242 | 39% | $1,977 | $40,432 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $55,380 | 100.9 | $1,387 | 37% | $2,328 | $44,186 |
| Lansing, MI | $52,800 | 95.0 | $1,012 | 28% | $2,539 | $44,859 |
| Flint, MI | $45,880 | 93.0 | $856 | 28% | $2,256 | $40,142 |
| South Bend, IN | $46,540 | 92.9 | $1,073 | 34% | $2,081 | $40,759 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $48,510 | 94.8 | $998 | 30% | $2,281 | $41,488 |
| Saginaw, MI | $46,200 | 90.9 | $851 | 27% | $2,281 | $41,356 |
| Traverse City, MI | $47,470 | 93.4 | $1,107 | 34% | $2,106 | $41,292 |
| Muskegon, MI | $46,060 | 92.5 | $942 | 30% | $2,182 | $40,513 |
| Niles, MI | $45,980 | 92.4 | $902 | 29% | $2,216 | $40,513 |
| Jackson, MI | $47,760 | 91.8 | $946 | 29% | $2,285 | $42,249 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $48,690 | 90.5 | $976 | 30% | $2,314 | $43,609 |
| Monroe, MI | $46,240 | 93.5 | $1,011 | 32% | $2,124 | $40,238 |
| Midland, MI | $49,340 | 91.9 | $925 | 28% | $2,407 | $43,492 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Monroe, MI vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, MI | 93.5 | $1,011 | $46,240 | 40,740 |
| Michigan City, IN | 91.7 | $953 | $45,540 | 40,840 |
| Longview, WA | 97.5 | $1,199 | $57,420 | 41,070 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 88.5 | $948 | $40,570 | 40,320 |
| Wildwood, FL | 85.4 | $1,139 | $45,830 | 41,300 |
| Casper, WY | 93.8 | $852 | $48,880 | 40,020 |
| Grand Island, NE | 86.7 | $948 | $49,410 | 39,520 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Monroe, MI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Monroe, MI metro area are 93.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 74.6%. It is the #196 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Monroe, MI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,095 in Monroe, MI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,240.
Can you afford Monroe, MI on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,240 median wage takes home about $3,135 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,011 would take 32% of that.
How much is rent in Monroe, MI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Monroe, MI are $914 for a studio, $1,011 for one bedroom, $1,326 for two bedrooms and $1,605 for three bedrooms, including utilities.