Fountain, MI vs Port Austin, MI

Port Austin is moderately more affordable than Fountain, with a 11.4% lower cost of living index. Fountain scores 74 compared to 67 for Port Austin, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fountain can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fountain is $1,094/month compared to $676/month in Port Austin — a 62% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Port Austin has cheaper rent, Fountain actually has lower median home values ($100,000 vs $162,100).

Median household income in Fountain is $47,500 compared to $46,000 in Port Austin (+3.3%). Fountain does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Fountain spend roughly 27.6% of their income on rent, more than the 17.6% in Port Austin.