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?
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.
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
Highest-paying jobs in Monroe, MI
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $93,690 | $71,010 | $75,953 |
| Registered Nurse | $82,170 | $63,395 | $67,808 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,030 | $50,397 | $53,905 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $54,510 | $43,913 | $46,970 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,540 | $34,043 | $36,412 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,520 | $32,505 | $34,768 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,780 | $31,942 | $34,166 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $36,870 | $30,489 | $32,611 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,430 | $30,154 | $32,253 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,200 | $29,979 | $32,066 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,660 | $29,568 | $31,626 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $34,630 | $28,784 | $30,788 |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,620 | $28,777 | $30,780 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $34,290 | $28,525 | $30,511 |
| Cashier | $29,320 | $24,743 | $26,466 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,950 | $23,690 | $25,339 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Monroe, MI
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $93,690
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,030
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,630
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,170
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,290
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,430
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,950
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $34,620
- Cashier — $29,320
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $41,540
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $36,870
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,510
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,520
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,660