CostIndexUSA

Detroit, MI vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMI
Detroit
100.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
WA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Detroit and Spokane have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+2.5%
Detroit
94.7
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+6.3%
Detroit
98.8
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation3.1%
Detroit
107.7
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare3.1%
Detroit
97.5
Spokane
94.5
Utilities14.8%
Detroit
107
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Detroit to see what you'd need to earn in Spokane to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 100.3) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Detroit, MI

Median Home Price
$254,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
94.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Spokane has 2.5% higher housing costs compared to Detroit.

Income & Job Market

Detroit, MI

Median Household Income
$72,600
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
672,795
Top Industries
AutomotiveHealthcareTechnologyFinanceManufacturing

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Detroit, MI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Spokane, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.