Marquette, MI vs St. Clair Shores, MI

Marquette, MI and St. Clair Shores, MI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.8% difference in their overall index. Marquette scores 83 while St. Clair Shores scores 85 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 $1,143/month in St. Clair Shores — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Marquette has cheaper rent, St. Clair Shores actually has lower median home values ($196,400 vs $254,100).

Median household income in Marquette is $55,825 compared to $72,693 in St. Clair Shores (-23.2%). While St. Clair Shores 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 18.9% in St. Clair Shores.