2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Altoona, PA vs Bay City, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Bay City or is it cheaper to live in Altoona?
- Bay City is 6.0% more expensive than Altoona.

Which city has more affordable housing, Bay City or Altoona?
- Bay City housing costs are 37.8% less expensive than Altoona housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Altoona or is Health Care more affordable in Bay City.
- Health related expenses are 2.2% more in Bay City.
 Altoona, PABay City, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock81.8100
 Food & Groceries97.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.0100
 Housing37.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$92,600$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.4100
 Miscellaneous94.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Altoona    11 Reviews

Sun rises and sets over 2000+ ft. mountains, which does seem to shorten your summer days. It gets hot and humid in the summer, with not a lot of wind or airflow,  More

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Over 5 years ago

Though the climate in Altoona is cold in the Winter, it does often get less snow than Western Pennsylvania because of the Allegheny Front mountain range just to the west  More

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I grew up in Hollidaysburg near Altoona. The city has had its ups and downs throughout the years but all in all I think that central PA has the most beautiful scenery  More

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Reviews for Bay City    7 Reviews

Bay City offers low prices for homes due to lower population (Current lower demand). Years ago, the population was more than 3x as big due to big lumber industry, etc.  More

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But everything else is going to  More

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There are many pros to Bay City, it is incredibly cheap to live in and most everything is very affordable. The problem is that the economy is terrible and there aren't  More

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