Question 1

Is Detroit or New York cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,453/month less than in New York, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $2,910/mo in New York.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs New York?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $115,500/year in New York, NY — a difference of about $37,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or New York cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $11,966/month in New York, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or New York?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Detroit58	New York44
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$5,531
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$11,966
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$115,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$2,910
Median home value	$76,800	$751,700
Median household income	$39,575	$79,713
Unemployment	10.7%	5.2%
Housing score	61	3
Jobs score	36	43
Safety score	18	47
Climate score	79	99
Amenities score	82	40
Population	636.6K	8.5M
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	84° / 27°

Detroit, MI vs New York, NY