Michigan vs. North Dakota Cost of Living Summary

Michigan is 5.0% more expensive than North Dakota.

Restaurants
pay 13.8% less in Michigan
Groceries
pay 6.6% less in Michigan
Transportation
pay 11.8% more in Michigan
Housing
pay 17.7% more in Michigan
Childcare
pay 28.9% more in Michigan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.1% less in Michigan
Clothing
pay 6.5% more in Michigan

The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, and clothing in Michigan are more expensive than in North Dakota. Expenses including entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries are lower in Michigan.

Michigan vs. North Dakota Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Michigan instead of North Dakota, you would:

pay 13.8% less for restaurants

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $19.30
 
$18.33
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$12.96
 
$10.87
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.78
 
$2.56
 

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pay 6.6% less for groceries

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Bread
1 loaf
$2.97
 
$3.15
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.16
 
$6.51
 
Milk (1 gallon) $4.12
 
$3.21
 

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pay 11.8% more for transportation

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.52
 
$3.73
 
Monthly public transit pass $42.00
 
$54.17
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $32,921.00
 
$34,818.91
 

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pay 17.7% more for housing

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$72.92
 
$61.25
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,004.65
 
$1,272.01
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $815.11
 
$1,015.75
 

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pay 28.9% more for childcare

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,032.40
 
$1,330.85
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters ?? $19,812.04
 

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pay 16.1% less for entertainment and sports

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.38
 
$5.29
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $7.01
 
$5.13
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$10.46
 
$9.54
 

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pay 6.5% more for clothing

 
North Dakota
Michigan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$40.20
 
$53.03
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$39.61
 
$39.60
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$97.17
 
$83.56
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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