Cost of Living in Saginaw, MI
Saginaw, MI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Saginaw, MI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Saginaw, MI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.9 | −9.1% |
| Housing | 63.6 | −36.4% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 95.8 | −4.2% |
| Other services | 99.6 | −0.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Saginaw, MI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $770 | $30,800/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $851 | $34,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,117 | $44,680/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,440 | $57,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,479 | $59,160/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Saginaw, MI
- Federal income tax$3,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,864
- Medicare (1.45%)$670
- Michigan income tax$1,713
- Take-home pay$37,589
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Highest-paying jobs in Saginaw, MI
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saginaw, MI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Saginaw, MI metro area are 90.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 63.6%. It is the #273 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Saginaw, MI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,535 in Saginaw, MI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,200.
How much is rent in Saginaw, MI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Saginaw, MI are $770 for a studio, $851 for one bedroom, $1,117 for two bedrooms and $1,440 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Saginaw, MI
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $81,950
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,310
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $73,810
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $66,300
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,020
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $95,160
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $41,330
- Nursing Assistant — $39,400
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,060
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,430
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,430
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,000
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,260
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,720
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $31,150
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,400
- Retail Salesperson — $31,210
- Cashier — $29,300
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $61,910
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,480
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $44,560
- Office Clerks, General — $43,610
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $42,350
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $40,570
- Customer Service Representative — $36,150
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,730
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $49,000
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,320
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,620
Production Occupations
- Machinist — $52,360
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,610
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $50,200
- Light Truck Driver — $44,360
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,590
- Stocker and Order Filler — $32,860