States › Michigan › Brighton

Is Brighton, MI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,41419% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$87,016about $7,251/month · same as U.S. average
🔑 House price$339,0002% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $56,560 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Michigan. It is number 107 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Brighton
$1,414
Ludington
$1,056
St. Johns
$885
Hudsonville
$1,671
Grand Ledge
$1,036
Albion
$968
Freeland
$1,377

How much do households earn in Brighton?

Under $25k
10.3%
$25k–50k
18.2%
$50k–100k
36.8%
$100k–150k
17.2%
$150k+
13.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 30.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Brighton

SizeBrightonU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,122$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,443$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,840$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Brighton overall?

Everyday prices in Michigan overall are 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.2, U.S. = 100).

Housing
82
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
100
Other services
101
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Brighton, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Brighton

🏛️ Property tax$4,515a year · 1.33% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$105a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Brighton

Commute to work24.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree48.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brighton?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $938 a month less.

Renting
$1,414
Owning
$2,352

Owning assumes a typical $339,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,900 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Brighton, MI?

Renting in Brighton costs a median of about $1,414 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

How much do I need to make to live in Brighton?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $56,560 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Brighton cheap or expensive?

Brighton is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.5% of the typical household income of $87,016. It ranks 107th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Brighton?

The median homeowner in Brighton pays $4,515 a year in property taxes, about 1.33% of the median home value.

Is Brighton more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Michigan are 4% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Brighton?

The median home value in Brighton is $339,000, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.

7,688 people live in Brighton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.