States › Michigan › St. Johns

Is St. Johns, MI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 14 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$88550% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$74,123about $6,177/month · 15% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$192,40042% 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 $35,400 a year. That is $17 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 15 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

St. Johns
$885
Brighton
$1,414
Ludington
$1,056
Hudsonville
$1,671
Grand Ledge
$1,036
Albion
$968
Freeland
$1,377

How much do households earn in St. Johns?

Under $25k
13.9%
$25k–50k
26.2%
$50k–100k
34.2%
$100k–150k
15.5%
$150k+
5.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 21.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in St. Johns

SizeSt. JohnsU.S. average
Studio$740$1,338
1 bedroom$875$1,324
2 bedrooms$996$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,187$1,698

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

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

Taxes and bills in St. Johns

🏛️ Property tax$2,843a year · 1.48% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$184a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in St. Johns

Commute to work20.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree26.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home69.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.1%U.S.: 5.2%

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

Renting is cheaper right now: about $450 a month less.

Renting
$885
Owning
$1,335

Owning assumes a typical $192,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $19,240 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

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

Renting in St. Johns costs a median of about $885 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $35,400 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.

Is St. Johns cheap or expensive?

St. Johns is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.3% of the typical household income of $74,123. It ranks 15th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.

How much are property taxes in St. Johns?

The median homeowner in St. Johns pays $2,843 a year in property taxes, about 1.48% of the median home value.

Is St. Johns 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. Johns?

The median home value in St. Johns is $192,400, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,715 people live in St. Johns. Numbers are typical (middle) values.