States › Michigan › Chelsea

Is Chelsea, MI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 28 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7902% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$77,758about $6,480/month · 11% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$312,7006% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 57% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.0 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $71,600 a year. That is $34 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 152 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Chelsea
$1,790
Comstock Northwest
$1,679
Grosse Pointe
$1,984
St. Clair
$1,231
Springfield
$981
Gladstone
$553
Zeeland
$1,122

How much do households earn in Chelsea?

Under $25k
9.7%
$25k–50k
31.9%
$50k–100k
26.9%
$100k–150k
14.6%
$150k+
13.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 28.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Chelsea

SizeChelseaU.S. average
Studio$2,307$1,338
1 bedroom$1,832$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,447$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,894$1,698

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

How expensive is Chelsea 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 Chelsea, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Chelsea

🏛️ Property tax$4,853a year · 1.55% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$112a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Chelsea

Commute to work24 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree51.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home63%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chelsea?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $380 a month less.

Renting
$1,790
Owning
$2,170

Owning assumes a typical $312,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $31,270 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Chelsea, MI?

Renting in Chelsea costs a median of about $1,790 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $71,600 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Chelsea cheap or expensive?

Chelsea is rated OK: rent takes 27.6% of the typical household income of $77,758. It ranks 152nd cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Chelsea?

The median homeowner in Chelsea pays $4,853 a year in property taxes, about 1.55% of the median home value.

Is Chelsea 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 Chelsea?

The median home value in Chelsea is $312,700, about 4.0 times the typical yearly household income.

5,426 people live in Chelsea. Numbers are typical (middle) values.