Royal Oak, MI vs Troy, MI

Royal Oak is moderately more affordable than Troy, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Royal Oak scores 100 compared to 114 for Troy, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Troy can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Royal Oak is $1,335/month compared to $1,557/month in Troy — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Royal Oak is more affordable at $305,900 median vs $396,800.

Median household income in Royal Oak is $95,182 compared to $119,299 in Troy (-20.2%). While Troy is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Royal Oak spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, more than the 15.7% in Troy.