Cost of living in Rochester Hills, MI

In Rochester Hills, median rent is $1,814 a month, 16% above the U.S. average, and the monthly payment on a median-priced home is about $3,352 (23% above average). The average wage is $76,632 a year (3% above average). Of 29 everyday prices tracked here, 19 are above the national average.

Open the charts for Rochester Hills →

The charts show each price back to 1950. Older local figures there are estimates.

How Rochester Hills ranks

Among the 59 Michigan places and the 31 places in the Detroit metro with at least 20,000 people:

Housing

Measured locally: Census Bureau figures for Rochester Hills, MI.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities$1,814$1,56016% more
Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance$3,352$2,72123% more
Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home$4,949$4,38013% more

Your paycheck

Measured locally: BLS average wages for Oakland County.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
SalaryAverage yearly wage$76,632$74,4003% more
Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage$5,862$5,6923% more

Getting around

Gas: EIA state or city averages. Car insurance: NAIC state averages. Parking, rides and transit passes are estimates.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
A monthly transit passUnlimited local bus or rail$107$106same as U.S.
Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded$65.00$68.856% less
15-minute Uber rideTypical UberX fare, since the 2012 launch$29.77$29.501% more
Parking, per hourDowntown meter or garage$3.18$4.0521% less
Car insuranceAverage yearly premium$1,959$1,74013% more

Food and drink

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Detroit metro.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store$3.82$3.801% more
A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store$4.17$4.151% more
Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie$56.25$55.901% more
Cup of coffeeBrewed coffee at a café or diner$3.48$3.451% more
Pint of domestic beerAt a bar or restaurant$7.37$7.301% more
Six-pack of domestic beer12 oz cans, grocery store$11.26$11.201% more
Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968$6.08$6.05same as U.S.
Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese$13.69$13.601% more

Bills and fun

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Detroit metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes$11.65$11.551% more
A haircutBasic cut at a barber or salon$34.92$34.003% more
A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes$8.69$8.65same as U.S.
A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate$176$1648% more
Home internet billMonthly; dial-up until the mid-2000s$77.22$77.00same as U.S.
Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package$108$108same as U.S.
MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat$35.55$39.5010% less

Health and family

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Detroit metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemRochester HillsU.S. averageDifference
Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly$1,407$1,3703% more
A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public$11,833$11,800same as U.S.
Doctor’s visit, no insuranceRoutine office visit, paid out of pocket$195$1941% more
Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share$2,248$2,240same as U.S.
Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges$15,788$15,7001% more
A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring$35,438$34,7002% more

How these prices have changed since 1950, nationally: Daycare for one toddler · A year of public university · Family health premium · Having a baby in hospital · A wedding · A dozen eggs · A gallon of milk · Thanksgiving dinner for 10 · A movie ticket · A pack of cigarettes · A night in a hotel · Salary · Payroll tax · Big Mac · Ham & cheese sandwich groceries · Tank of gas · Car insurance · Monthly rent · Monthly mortgage payment · Property tax · Cable TV bill · MLB game ticket

Rochester Hills vs nearby places

PlaceRentMortgage paymentAverage wage
Rochester Hills, MI$1,814$3,352$76,632
Detroit, MI$1,186$686$75,144
Warren, MI$1,353$1,581$69,862
Sterling Heights, MI$1,426$2,242$69,862
Dearborn, MI$1,465$1,791$75,144
Livonia, MI$1,460$2,299$75,144
Troy, MI$1,769$3,437$76,632

How these are worked out

Rent and home values are for Rochester Hills, MI; other prices are for the Detroit metro. National prices are scaled to Rochester Hills using local cost levels: rent, home values and property tax bills from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, wages from the BLS, gas from the EIA, car insurance from NAIC state averages, and other goods and services from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s regional price parities. Parking has no national source and is estimated from the town’s size and density. Figures are as of September 2026. More on the method.