Detroit, MI Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Detroit, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Detroit →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 636,787, Detroit, Michigan sits below the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $37,761 per year (-48% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Detroit run a median $66,700, below the benchmark across cities in our dataset (-80%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $989. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Detroit's home-price-to-income ratio of about 1.8× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Prices in the area have gained 5.27% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Detroit. Detroit carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $989/mo in Detroit would take 31.4% of your income.
$45/mo over the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($66,700) would take 11.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$525/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Detroit
Median home value is $66,700 and median gross rent is $989/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Wayne rose 5.27% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,411/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Detroit's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Detroit reported a violent crime rate of 1654.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Detroit
Planning a move to Detroit? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Cost estimates for moving between Detroit and nearby popular destinations:
- Moving from Detroit to Austin
- Moving from Detroit to Chicago
- Moving from Detroit to New York
- Moving from Detroit to Denver
- Moving from Detroit to Phoenix
- Moving from Detroit to Tampa
- Moving from Detroit to Atlanta
- Moving from Detroit to Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)
- Moving from Detroit to Dallas
- Moving from Detroit to Charlotte
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Detroit, MI?
- For a quick read on Detroit: homes carry a median value of $66,700, rent runs a median $989 monthly, and household income is a median $37,761, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Detroit?
- Comfortably affording rent in Detroit — where the median runs $989/month — typically means earning about $39,560 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Detroit.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Detroit?
- In Detroit, comfortably renting the median unit ($989/month) takes about $39,560 in annual income, while buying the median home ($66,700) takes roughly $15,261 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Detroit safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Detroit's violent crime rate was 1654.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Detroit →
Compare Detroit to similar cities
- Detroit vs Austin: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Detroit vs Chicago: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Detroit vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Detroit vs Denver: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Phoenix vs Detroit: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Tampa vs Detroit: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Detroit's.