Jackson, MI vs Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Jackson, MI and Sault Ste. Marie, MI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.6% difference in their overall index. Jackson scores 67 while Sault Ste. Marie scores 67 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Jackson is $874/month compared to $787/month in Sault Ste. Marie — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Sault Ste. Marie has cheaper rent, Jackson actually has lower median home values ($94,700 vs $127,300).

Median household income in Jackson is $42,848 compared to $55,031 in Sault Ste. Marie (-22.1%). While Sault Ste. Marie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Jackson spend roughly 24.5% of their income on rent, more than the 17.2% in Sault Ste. Marie.