Auburn Hills, MI vs Highland Park, MI

The cost of living difference between Auburn Hills, MI and Highland Park, MI is dramatic. Highland Park is 56.5% cheaper than Auburn Hills, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Auburn Hills has a cost index of 96 while Highland Park sits at 62, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Auburn Hills is $1,411/month compared to $691/month in Highland Park — a 104% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Highland Park is more affordable at $75,800 median vs $233,900.

Median household income in Auburn Hills is $78,727 compared to $27,582 in Highland Park (+185.4%). While Auburn Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Auburn Hills spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, less than the 30.1% in Highland Park. The Auburn Hills ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.