States › Michigan › River Rouge

Is River Rouge, MI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$92847% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$44,276about $3,690/month · 49% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$65,10080% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all 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 $37,120 a year. That is $18 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 21 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

River Rouge
$928
South Monroe
$1,295
Bridgeport
$795
Marshall
$960
Walled Lake
$2,148
Fair Plain
$1,314
Eastwood
$1,255

How much do households earn in River Rouge?

Under $25k
30.2%
$25k–50k
28.3%
$50k–100k
23.2%
$100k–150k
5.4%
$150k+
2.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 8.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in River Rouge

SizeRiver RougeU.S. average
1 bedroom$628$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,038$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,219$1,698
4 bedrooms$870$2,098

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

How expensive is River Rouge 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 River Rouge, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in River Rouge

🏛️ Property tax$1,580a year · 2.43% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$171a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in River Rouge

Commute to work25.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree6.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home57.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line39.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment11.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in River Rouge?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $476 a month less than renting.

Renting
$928
Owning
$452

Owning assumes a typical $65,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $6,510 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in River Rouge, MI?

Renting in River Rouge costs a median of about $928 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

How much do I need to make to live in River Rouge?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $37,120 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is River Rouge cheap or expensive?

River Rouge is rated OK: rent takes 25.2% of the typical household income of $44,276. It ranks 21st cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in River Rouge?

The median homeowner in River Rouge pays $1,580 a year in property taxes, about 2.43% of the median home value.

Is River Rouge 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 River Rouge?

The median home value in River Rouge is $65,100, about 1.5 times the typical yearly household income.

7,008 people live in River Rouge. Numbers are typical (middle) values.