States › Michigan › St. Clair

Is St. Clair, MI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,23130% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$75,159about $6,263/month · 14% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$223,20033% 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 $49,240 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 75 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

St. Clair
$1,231
Grosse Pointe
$1,984
Zeeland
$1,122
Dowagiac
$929
Dundee
$1,471
Chelsea
$1,790
Houghton Lake
$912

How much do households earn in St. Clair?

Under $25k
11.7%
$25k–50k
32.5%
$50k–100k
36.6%
$100k–150k
12.8%
$150k+
6.2%

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

Rent by apartment size in St. Clair

SizeSt. ClairU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,087$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,065$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,397$1,698

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

How expensive is St. Clair 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 St. Clair, so the Michigan figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in St. Clair

🏛️ Property tax$3,397a year · 1.52% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$127a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in St. Clair

Commute to work22 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree27.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home68.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line7.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment0.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. Clair?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $318 a month less.

Renting
$1,231
Owning
$1,549

Owning assumes a typical $223,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,320 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in St. Clair, MI?

Renting in St. Clair costs a median of about $1,231 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

How much do I need to make to live in St. Clair?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $49,240 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is St. Clair cheap or expensive?

St. Clair is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.7% of the typical household income of $75,159. It ranks 75th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in St. Clair?

The median homeowner in St. Clair pays $3,397 a year in property taxes, about 1.52% of the median home value.

Is St. Clair 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 St. Clair?

The median home value in St. Clair is $223,200, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.

5,585 people live in St. Clair. Numbers are typical (middle) values.