Benton Harbor, MI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Benton Harbor, MI Summary

Cost of living in Benton Harbor research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Benton Harbor is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Michigan, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Benton Harbor is 79, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Benton Harbor is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Benton Harbor ranks as the #10 cheapest in Michigan out of 175.

  • Benton Harbor ranks as the #155 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Benton Harbor is $61,000.

  • The median income in Benton Harbor is $24,549.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
79
Benton Harbor's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Benton Harbor, MI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Benton Harbor has an overall cost of living index of 79, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Michigan, Benton Harbor has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 92.

The standard of living in Benton Harbor ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 175 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Benton Harbor ranks as the #165 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.

For more reading on life in Benton Harbor, check out:

10 out of 175
In Michigan
155 out of 6,412
In America

Benton Harbor Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benton Harbor. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Benton Harbor is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Benton Harbor is 93.

  • The Health index in Benton Harbor is 98.

  • The Housing index in Benton Harbor is 36.

  • The Transportation index in Benton Harbor is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Benton Harbor is 110.

Living Expense Benton Harbor Michigan National Average
Overall 79 92 100
Services 92 96 100
Groceries 93 96 100
Health 98 94 100
Housing 36 80 100
Transportation 96 97 100
Utilities 110 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Benton Harbor Cost of Living Vs. MI

Benton Harbor, MI Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Benton Harbor is $61,000.

  • The Median Rent in Benton Harbor is $737.

  • The Median Income in Benton Harbor is $24,549.

  • The Home Value To Income in Benton Harbor is 2.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Benton Harbor is 0.36x.

Statistic Benton Harbor Michigan United States
Median Home Value $61,000 $172,100 $244,900
Median Rent $737 $946 $1,163
Median Income $24,549 $63,202 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.5x 2.7x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.36x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Benton Harbor, MI
$61,000
Median Home Value
$737
Median Rent
$24,549
Median Income

Benton Harbor, MI Costs By Category

Detailed Benton Harbor Services Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Benton Harbor Michigan
Shampoo $0.95 $1.06
Movie $8.08 $10.68
Bowling $17.5 $14.67
Haircut $15.52 $18.62
Beauty Salon $26.96 $39.05

Detailed Benton Harbor Groceries Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Benton Harbor Michigan
Ground Beef $4.66 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.34 $1.39
Milk $1.67 $2.05
Potatoes $3.73 $3.29
Pizza $7.99 $10.62
Beer $8.17 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.24 $2.34

Detailed Benton Harbor Health Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Benton Harbor Michigan
Optometrist $82.52 $108.57
Doctor $102.39 $116.17
Dentist $101.13 $99.13

Detailed Benton Harbor Transportation Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Benton Harbor Michigan
Gasoline $2.04 $2.22
Tire Balancing $53.37 $50.07

Detailed Benton Harbor Utilities Costs Vs. Michigan

Item Benton Harbor Michigan
All Electricity $195.75 $167.67
Phone $178.81 $175.64

Benton Harbor SnackAbility

2
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
2/10
Housing
3
Affordability
5
Diversity
7
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
3
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Benton Harbor

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Benton Harbor. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Portage, MI has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Benton Harbor.

  • Goshen, IN has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Benton Harbor.

  • Holland, MI has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Benton Harbor.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Benton Harbor
Portage, MI 48,767 87 1.1x
Goshen, IN 34,792 87 1.1x
Holland, MI 34,067 87 1.1x
Granger, IN 30,394 105 1.3x
Westwood, MI 8,920 83 1.1x
St. Joseph, MI 7,868 91 1.2x
Fair Plain, MI 7,357 84 1.1x
Dunlap, IN 7,097 88 1.1x
Eastwood, MI 6,569 79 1.0x
Westville, IN 6,062 81 1.0x

Articles About Michigan

Enjoy The Snack?