Port Austin, MI vs Saranac, MI

Saranac is moderately more affordable than Port Austin, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Port Austin scores 67 compared to 61 for Saranac, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Port Austin can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Port Austin is $676/month compared to $415/month in Saranac — a 63% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Saranac has cheaper rent, Port Austin actually has lower median home values ($162,100 vs $183,300).

Median household income in Port Austin is $46,000 compared to $64,157 in Saranac (-28.3%). Saranac offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Port Austin spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, more than the 7.8% in Saranac.