Saugatuck, MI vs St. James, MI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. St. James is 18.6% cheaper than Saugatuck. With a cost index of 83 vs 99, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from St. James to Saugatuck should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Saugatuck is $505/month compared to $925/month in St. James — a 45% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Saugatuck has cheaper rent, St. James actually has lower median home values ($275,000 vs $619,400).

Median household income in Saugatuck is $118,309 compared to $82,708 in St. James (+43%). While Saugatuck is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Saugatuck spend roughly 5.1% of their income on rent, less than the 13.4% in St. James.