States › Michigan › Melvindale

Is Melvindale, MI expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 32 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,22830% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$45,497about $3,791/month · 48% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$125,80062% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 74% 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 $49,120 a year. That is $24 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 73 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Melvindale
$1,228
Woodhaven
$1,251
Ionia
$929
Escanaba
$1,026
Riverview
$1,218
Rochester
$1,659
New Baltimore
$1,149

How much do households earn in Melvindale?

Under $25k
16.8%
$25k–50k
34.3%
$50k–100k
24.0%
$100k–150k
11.5%
$150k+
1.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 13.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Melvindale

SizeMelvindaleU.S. average
Studio$818$1,338
1 bedroom$877$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,349$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,362$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,907$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Melvindale

🏛️ Property tax$1,993a year · 1.58% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$178a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Melvindale

Commute to work25.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree14%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home60.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line39.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Melvindale?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $355 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,228
Owning
$873

Owning assumes a typical $125,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,580 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Melvindale, MI?

Renting in Melvindale costs a median of about $1,228 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $49,120 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Melvindale cheap or expensive?

Melvindale is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.4% of the typical household income of $45,497. It ranks 73rd cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Melvindale?

The median homeowner in Melvindale pays $1,993 a year in property taxes, about 1.58% of the median home value.

Is Melvindale 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 Melvindale?

The median home value in Melvindale is $125,800, about 2.8 times the typical yearly household income.

12,554 people live in Melvindale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.