Michigan vs. South Dakota Cost of Living Summary

Michigan is 9.3% more expensive than South Dakota.

Restaurants
pay 18.2% more in Michigan
Groceries
pay 9.1% more in Michigan
Transportation
pay 21.7% more in Michigan
Housing
pay 2.1% less in Michigan
Childcare
pay 2.0 times more in Michigan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.3% more in Michigan
Clothing
pay 6.8% less in Michigan

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

Michigan vs. South Dakota Cost Breakdown

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

pay 18.2% more for restaurants

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $13.00
 
$18.33
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.33
 
$10.87
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.53
 
$2.56
 

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pay 9.1% more for groceries

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Bread
1 loaf
$2.80
 
$3.15
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.94
 
$6.51
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.55
 
$3.21
 

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pay 21.7% more for transportation

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.52
 
$3.73
 
Monthly public transit pass $30.00
 
$54.17
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,246.50
 
$34,818.91
 

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pay 2.1% less for housing

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.99
 
$61.25
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,145.83
 
$1,272.01
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,105.14
 
$1,015.75
 

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pay 2.0 times more for childcare

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $833.31
 
$1,330.85
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $7,800.00
 
$19,812.04
 

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pay 3.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.00
 
$5.29
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.71
 
$5.13
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.54
 
$9.54
 

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pay 6.8% less for clothing

 
South Dakota
Michigan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$46.56
 
$53.03
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$43.33
 
$39.60
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$91.03
 
$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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