Cost of Living: Portage, MI vs Sterling Heights, MI

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,268/mo in Portage, MI versus $4,268/mo in Sterling Heights, MI. In the model, rent is about 16.32% of gross in Portage, MI versus 18.46% in Sterling Heights, MI, so Portage, MI tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Portage, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Sterling Heights, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: below
Rent share (1BR) in Portage, MI
16.32%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Sterling Heights, MI
18.46%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Portage, MI and Sterling Heights, MI.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Sterling Heights, MI
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Portage, MI
  • Lower home prices: Portage, MI
  • Higher median household income: Portage, MI

Cost of Living Index

Portage, MI: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Sterling Heights, MI: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).

Median Rent

Portage, MI: $1,064/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Sterling Heights, MI: $1,204/mo

Median rent in Sterling Heights, MI is $140/mo higher than in Portage, MI.

Median Home Price

Portage, MI: $243,400 · Sterling Heights, MI: $260,700

Median home price in Sterling Heights, MI is $17,300 higher than in Portage, MI.

Median Household Income

Portage, MI: $79,529 · Sterling Heights, MI: $78,429

Portage, MI has a higher median household income than Sterling Heights, MI by $1,100.

Portage, MI overview · Sterling Heights, MI overview · Popular comparisons