Your paycheck may be higher in other parts of the country, but when you add in costs of living, you actually make more when you live in Macomb County, Mich. Don't believe us? The data is proof. Your dollar goes further in Metro Detroit.
For example, an industrial engineer living in Washington D.C. makes $114,574 per year on average. In Macomb County, an individual with that same position makes an average of $97,021. However, after all costs and expenditures (housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, taxes, etc.), the average annual wage for the individual living in Washington D.C would be $46,547, while the individual in Macomb County would have $54,148 - an almost $10,000 difference.
Check out this quick cost of living comparison breakdown, or see the real cost comparisons below to fully understand why your paycheck goes further in Macomb County, Mich. versus other major metropolitan areas.
Looking for additional data? Contact our team at planning@macombgov.org.
Average cost of living
| Households | 2,740,164 |
| Average household size | 2.63 |
| Median household income | $107,859 |
| Cost of living index* | 117.7 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $9,672.89 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $44,283.08 |
| Transportation | $14,071.09 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $68,027.06 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 1,172,264 |
| Average household size | 2.74 |
| Median household income | $95,879 |
| Cost of living index | 142.2 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $8,434.41 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $38,844.38 |
| Transportation | $12,286.33 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $59,565.12 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 692,411 |
| Average household size | 2.9 |
| Median household income | $148,406 |
| Cost of living index* | 145.6 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $12,438.22 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $58,048.97 |
| Transportation | $17,294.26 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $87,781.45 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 1,036,141 |
| Average household size | 2.52 |
| Median household income | $87,900 |
| Cost of living index* | 106.6 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $7,826.10 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $35,679.52 |
| Transportation | $12,143.44 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $55,649.06 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 2,351,252 |
| Average household size | 2.65 |
| Median household income | $81,148 |
| Cost of living index* | 96.2 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $7,333.22 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $33,152.00 |
| Transportation | $11,281.76 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $51,766.98 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 2,003,233 |
| Average household size | 2.44 |
| Median household income | $70,436 |
| Cost of living index* | 96.5 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $6,577.92 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $29,334.46 |
| Transportation | $9,993.38 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $45,905.76 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
| Households | 357,397 |
| Average household size | 2.46 |
| Median household income | $69,803 |
| Cost of living index* | 95.9 |
| Food at home (groceries) | $6,033.94 |
| Housing (shelter + utilities) | $26,845.80 |
| Transportation | $9,993.38 |
| Total (annual average per household) | $42,873.12 |
*A cost of living index score above 100 means that the cost of living in a particular area is higher than the national average, while a score below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than the national average.
Expenditures (annual spending)
| Total expenditures | $131,710.67 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 143 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $114,015.87 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 124 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $168,092.35 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 183 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $107,226.66 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 116 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $99,992.03 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 109 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $89,064.38 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 97 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
| Total expenditures | $81,996.74 |
| Spending Potential Index* | 89 |
*The Spending Potential Index represents the amount spent in the area relative to a national average of 100. An SPI of 110 means that the area spends 10% more than the national average, on that good or service.
Average annual wages (by location)
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $125,269 |
| San Diego, CA | $128,833 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $172,712 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $132,783 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $117,286 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $104,588 |
| Macomb County, MI | $110,103 |
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $118,630 |
| San Diego, CA | $103,000 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $140,824 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $109,569 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $99,646 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $98,886 |
| Macomb County, MI | $101,203 |
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $114,574 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,362 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $125,872 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $110,538 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $97,133 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $97,758 |
| Macomb County, MI | $97,021 |
Cost of living comparison
Note: These figures would be an average annual wage in each metro area/city after expenses (housing, transportation, groceries, etc.).
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $57,242 |
| San Diego, CA | $69,268 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $84,931 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $77,134 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $52,821 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $58,682 |
| Macomb County, MI | $67,230 |
Note: These figures would be an average annual wage in each metro area/city after expenses (housing, transportation, groceries, etc.).
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $50,603 |
| San Diego, CA | $43,435 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $53,043 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $53,920 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $47,879 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $52,980 |
| Macomb County, MI | $58,330 |
Note: These figures would be an average annual wage in each metro area/city after expenses (housing, transportation, groceries, etc.).
| Washington, D.C. (metro area) | $46,547 |
| San Diego, CA | $48,797 |
| Santa Clara County/San José, CA | $38,091 |
| Austin, TX (metro area) | $54,889 |
| Atlanta, GA (metro area) | $45,991 |
| Detroit, MI (metro area) | $51,852 |
| Macomb County, MI | $54,148 |