States › Michigan › Southgate

Is Southgate, MI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,39021% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$71,308about $5,942/month · 18% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$173,60048% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 64% 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 $55,600 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 104 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Southgate
$1,390
Oak Park
$1,497
Burton
$1,096
Forest Hills
$2,609
Port Huron
$996
Madison Heights
$1,303
Allen Park
$1,059

How much do households earn in Southgate?

Under $25k
13.8%
$25k–50k
26.8%
$50k–100k
36.7%
$100k–150k
12.3%
$150k+
6.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 19.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Southgate

SizeSouthgateU.S. average
Studio$868$1,338
1 bedroom$1,052$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,335$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,845$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,095$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Southgate

🏛️ Property tax$3,292a year · 1.90% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$175a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Southgate

Commute to work23.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree21.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home67.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line9.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Southgate?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $185 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,390
Owning
$1,205

Owning assumes a typical $173,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $17,360 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Southgate, MI?

Renting in Southgate costs a median of about $1,390 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $55,600 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Southgate cheap or expensive?

Southgate is rated OK: rent takes 23.4% of the typical household income of $71,308. It ranks 104th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Southgate?

The median homeowner in Southgate pays $3,292 a year in property taxes, about 1.90% of the median home value.

Is Southgate 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 Southgate?

The median home value in Southgate is $173,600, about 2.4 times the typical yearly household income.

29,366 people live in Southgate. Numbers are typical (middle) values.