City Comparison

Flint vs Hillsboro

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Flint

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

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

The Verdict

33.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 33.6%, with Flint being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to $112,941 in Hillsboro.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
31
Flint
175
Hillsboro
Groceries
100
Flint
108
Hillsboro
Utilities
94
Flint
96
Hillsboro
Transportation
108
Flint
126
Hillsboro
Healthcare
95
Flint
103
Hillsboro

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Flint has the same purchasing power as $112,941 in Hillsboro.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $49,805 in Flint.

Living in Flint vs Hillsboro

Housing Costs

Flint's housing index of 31 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $75,000 vs $533,000. The $458,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Flint compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $950.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Flint and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Flint vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Flint offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Flint and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Flint vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Flint and 103 in Hillsboro. 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $35,765 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro 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 $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Flint, median rent of $775/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flint is 33.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,941 in Hillsboro, based on the cost of living difference.
Flint's housing index is 31 with median homes at $75,000, while Hillsboro's is 175 with median homes at $533,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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