Marquette, MI vs Portage, MI

Marquette, MI and Portage, MI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.7% difference in their overall index. Marquette scores 83 while Portage scores 87 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 Marquette is $958/month compared to $1,120/month in Portage — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Marquette has cheaper rent, Portage actually has lower median home values ($243,400 vs $254,100).

Median household income in Marquette is $55,825 compared to $79,529 in Portage (-29.8%). While Portage is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marquette spend roughly 20.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Portage.