Curious what $1,300 could get you to rent in Michigan? We broke it down, shoreline to shoreline.
According to our good friend and my personal nighttime scroll companion, Zillow, the average home rental price in Michigan as of May 2026 is $1,379. However, as you can probably guess, what that average price actually gets you varies widely by location. A rental in Flint may not fetch the same price as Ann Arbor, and a rental in a rural farming town will definitely not be the same price as a rental in a beach town.
Surprisingly, Zillow also notes that rent prices have only increased by an average of $5 compared to last year, so I guess that’s good news. But in an economy where purchasing a home can feel widely out of reach for so many, rental properties may become all the more popular. Here is what you can expect rental prices to look like throughout Michigan, with an average of around $1,300 to $1,400.
Kalamazoo: 750-square-foot apartment
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, you can nab a 750-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in a complex for just over $1,300. One pet-friendly complex is located near Western Michigan University, making it popular with students, but it is also near local highways, meaning many professionals choose the area as well.
Apartment dwellers get access to full kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers, balconies and patios, and updated features like stainless steel appliances, fireplaces, and some units with natural views. The complex also includes access to a swimming pool and fitness center, as well as package lockers.
Ann Arbor: 750-square-foot apartment
Another bustling college and young-professional town, Ann Arbor has similar one-bedroom, one-bath apartments at Haverhill on Clark, boasting 750 square feet for just over $1,300. The complex is near downtown Ann Arbor and the shopping district and includes plenty of on-site amenities, like a gym, cafe, yoga studio, game room, and playground. It’s also pet-friendly.
Flint: 1,400-square-foot townhouse
Switching gears a bit to take a look at what $1,300 in rent can get you, Flint can offer you an entire four-bedroom, one-bath with a two-car garage, full basement (with potential for another bedroom finished), hardwood floors, and a fenced-in yard. According to the street view, the home is also located in a neighborhood with walkable sidewalks and lovely, mature trees. The house we found is also near McLaren Hospital in Flint, making it a low-cost option for nearby or traveling healthcare workers.
Detroit: 436-square-foot studio apartment
Whatever misconceptions of Detroit you may have, you can go ahead and dispel them, because living in downtown Detroit can actually cost more than you may think. Renting a studio apartment in the Lafayette West complex, located near the business district, Greektown, and within walking distance to the Detroit Riverwalk, will run you around $1,300 a month.
The complex itself appears to be in a very modern, updated building, while the area around it seems more up-and-coming, with construction projects and remodeling underway. However, the apartments seem to have everything a tenant could need right on site, including in-unit laundry, a fitness center (which they say is rare for Detroit rentals), and storage facilities.
Harbor Springs: two-bedroom, one-bath ground-level apartment
We’ve discussed what a charming and picturesque town Harbor Spring is, so I had to look at what type of rentals are available in the small waterfront area. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were not many rental properties available to permanent renters. (Airbnbs, of course, are a different story, for any waterfront area.)
I did find one apartment complex that advertises one to two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments available on the ground level. It also happens to be within walking distance of that charming waterfront shore and downtown area we mentioned earlier.
Grand Haven: one-bedroom, one-bath, 418-square-foot apartment
Clocking in at one of the smallest rentals in our list, it’s also one of the cutest, located in a historic downtown building constructed in the 1800s. Grand Haven is one of the most popular beach towns in all of Michigan, and certainly on the west side of the state, known for expansive sandy beaches and all the summer vibes.
If you’re looking to live where the summer fun is, you can nab a downtown Grand Haven apartment within walking distance to Lake Michigan, as well as all sorts of restaurants and shopping. The cost of the apartment is listed at $1,395 and includes most utilities except electricity.
Grand Rapids: 680-square-foot studio apartment
If the downtown action of Grand Rapids is more your jam, you can find a rental apartment in Foote Hills that seems to cater to professionals, as they offer a full coworking space on-site. Renting here will place you near the airport, downtown, and the mall, as well as all of the ongoing Grand Rapids events and festivities. You can also upgrade your living space for under $2,000 if you need another bedroom.
Marquette: 530-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath apartment
I honestly did not know what to expect from rental prices in Michigan’s largest Upper Peninsula town, but rental prices appear to be on par with the rest of the state, albeit slightly lower. One 530-square-foot rental apartment that is within walking distance of Lake Superior and McCarty’s Cove, as well as a popular bike path, will run you just over $1,000 per month.
Mackinaw City: 900-square-foot, three-bedroom, one-bath
Sadly, I could not find any rentals on Mackinaw Island, but if you’re hoping to spend a summer working or exploring the area, a Mackinaw City apartment is pretty darn close. I found a three-bedroom, one-bath space that sounds great, but the catch is that it appears to be an attic apartment, so some of the ceilings are low and steeply angled. If you’re tall, it might be a problem.
Lapeer: two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment
Mixing it up a bit to zoom in on the Thumb area, we found rentals right on track with the $ 1,300-per-month range. Although the Thumb area can be hit-or-miss for amenities and attractions, rental demand remains high, keeping prices high. I remember being shocked way back in 2008 when I looked for an apartment in our small, thumb-area town and realized it was more expensive than a mortgage would be, and that appears to still be the case sometimes. (That obviously is a big generational issue and doesn’t take into account all the different factors that go into a mortgage, like down payment, interest rates, income, etc.)
Regardless, a budget of around $1,300 can get you a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Lapeer County, but from the listings we found, the furnishings and interiors could definitely use some updating.
Pigeon: 1,224 square feet, three-bedroom, one-bath home
If you need an entire home with a backyard, deck, porch, garage, and even a picturesque pond, look no further than Pigeon, Michigan, where we found an entire three-bedroom home for rent. The home also happens to be very close to the water and the Sand Point peninsula by the lively beach town of Caseville, Michigan.
Traverse City: 1,265 square feet, two-bedroom, one-bath
Rentals in Traverse City are tough to find, but for individuals who may need an accessible space and meet certain income restrictions, Brookside Commons offers spacious 1,265-square-foot (or more) options. The income-qualifying apartments are wheelchair-accessible and include amenities such as snow removal, lawn care, high-speed Internet, and air conditioning.
Auburn Hills: 836-square feet, one-bedroom, one-bath
For efficient living, look no further than Auburn Hills, where you can move into modern apartments in a complex that includes a pool, playground, and fitness center. From the available images, however, there do not appear to be any units with patios or balconies. If you’re willing to spend over $1,300 in base rent, you can upgrade to a two-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom unit.
Lansing: two-bedroom, one-bath townhouse
Last but not least, we have Lansing, both a college and a working town, where rentals are abundant. You can find sleek, modern apartments in the $1,300-plus range or opt for a more modest two-bedroom, one-bath townhouse. Plus, many are pet-friendly too!
