States › Michigan › Buena Vista

Is Buena Vista, MI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,00243% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$45,296about $3,775/month · 48% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$62,00081% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 88% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $40,080 a year. That is $19 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Michigan. It is number 38 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Buena Vista
$1,002
Houghton Lake
$912
Dundee
$1,471
Swartz Creek
$1,379
Richmond
$955
Petoskey
$1,113
Dowagiac
$929

How much do households earn in Buena Vista?

Under $25k
27.0%
$25k–50k
29.8%
$50k–100k
31.0%
$100k–150k
4.0%
$150k+
1.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 5.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Buena Vista

SizeBuena VistaU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,052$1,509
3 bedrooms$995$1,698

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

How expensive is Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Buena Vista

🏛️ Property tax$1,355a year · 2.19% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$190a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Buena Vista

Commute to work20.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree11.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home72.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line20.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment8.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buena Vista?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $572 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,002
Owning
$430

Owning assumes a typical $62,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $6,200 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Buena Vista, MI?

Renting in Buena Vista costs a median of about $1,002 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

How much do I need to make to live in Buena Vista?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $40,080 a year, or $19 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Buena Vista cheap or expensive?

Buena Vista is rated OK: rent takes 26.5% of the typical household income of $45,296. It ranks 38th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Buena Vista?

The median homeowner in Buena Vista pays $1,355 a year in property taxes, about 2.19% of the median home value.

Is Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista?

The median home value in Buena Vista is $62,000, about 1.4 times the typical yearly household income.

5,798 people live in Buena Vista. Numbers are typical (middle) values.