City Comparison

Flint vs Franklin

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Flint

Michigan
85
Very Affordable
$75,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$30,400
Median Income

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

The Verdict

38.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 38.8%, with Flint being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to $122,647 in Franklin.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
31
Flint
230
Franklin
Groceries
100
Flint
100
Franklin
Utilities
94
Flint
97
Franklin
Transportation
108
Flint
90
Franklin
Healthcare
95
Flint
91
Franklin

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Flint has the same purchasing power as $122,647 in Franklin.

Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $45,863 in Flint.

Living in Flint vs Franklin

Housing Costs

Flint's housing index of 31 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $75,000 vs $750,000. The $675,000 difference in home prices means roughly $43,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Flint compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $1,075.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Flint and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Flint vs $475/month in Franklin. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Flint and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Flint vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Flint and 91 in Franklin. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $30,400 in Flint and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $35,765 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $709/month to housing in Flint vs $2,758/month in Franklin. In Flint, median rent of $775/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 199 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flint is 38.8% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $122,647 in Franklin, based on the cost of living difference.
Flint's housing index is 31 with median homes at $75,000, while Franklin's is 230 with median homes at $750,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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