CostIndexUSA

Flint, MI vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Flint is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Flint, you would need $81,700 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.8%
Flint
74
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Flint
93.7
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Flint
104.5
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Flint
94.6
Lansing
94.6
Utilities1.6%
Flint
97.1
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 93) = salary × 1.0215. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lansing has 12.8% higher housing costs compared to Flint.

Income & Job Market

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.