2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Battle Creek, MI vs Salem, OR

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Salem or is it cheaper to live in Battle Creek?
- Salem is 26.1% more expensive than Battle Creek.

Which city has more affordable housing, Salem or Battle Creek?
- Salem housing costs are 149.5% more expensive than Battle Creek housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Battle Creek or is Health Care more affordable in Salem.
- Health related expenses are 1.7% less in Salem.
 Battle Creek, MISalem, ORUnited States
 Overall  Unlock104.0100
 Food & Groceries92.1  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.8100
 Housing48.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$399,000$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock96.1100
 Miscellaneous91.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Battle Creek    11 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

you need to really pay attention to the neighborhood you select. There are some great older neighborhoods with fantastic houses in the city, but those might only be one  More

   |    Reply

Over 13 years ago

Battle Creek is moderately ok in the summer months but any other time it is cold or cloudy and unpleasant. You better have warm clothes to survive the cold winter that  More

   |    Reply

Over 16 years ago

Battle Creek is a great place to raise a family. Sometimes hard to get people to move here but once here nobody wants to leave. Summers are absolutely beautiful. Yes  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Battle Creek

Reviews for Salem    37 Reviews

After reading the reviews here, I had to come write my own. The problem I had with most of the reviews is that most were very opinion-based and seemed to assume everyone  More

   |    Reply

Moved here approx. 4 years ago from SW Michigan, but I've lived in 9 other cities & 5 other states. Salem is a very manageable sized city, with tons of parks, diverse  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

I'm a native 5th generation Oregonian, so bear in mind that I was born with webs between my toes! Anyway, I used to think it rained too much when I was young. Then I  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Salem


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.