CostIndexUSA

Richmond, VA vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is moderately cheaper than Richmond — 7.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Richmond, you would need $74,300 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing35.8%
Richmond
99.1
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Richmond
96.8
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Richmond
103.5
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Richmond
93.7
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+7.4%
Richmond
89.2
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$74,300
$5,700 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9285. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Richmond has 35.8% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

Income & Job Market

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.