Martins Ferry, OH vs River Rouge, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

River Rouge, MI has a modeled overall cost index 2.8% lower than Martins Ferry, OH.

Martins Ferry, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
River Rouge, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,060 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Martins Ferry, OH and River Rouge, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $88.32/month in River Rouge, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,940 in River Rouge, MI

Regional cost estimates: Martins Ferry, OH uses Pittsburgh, PA. River Rouge, MI uses Detroit, MI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$88.32
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Martins Ferry, OH

Population:6K
Cost Index:
81.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$91K

River Rouge, MI

Population:7K
Cost Index:
79.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$83K

Planning the move to River Rouge?

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Martins Ferry, OH

The Buckeye State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 6K residents.

River Rouge, MI

The Great Lakes State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Martins Ferry, OH vs River Rouge, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 21.4%
Martins Ferry, OH
$1,937
River Rouge, MI
$1,523
Difference
$414
less
Transportation
↑ 27.0%
Martins Ferry, OH
$1,342
River Rouge, MI
$1,705
Difference
$363
more
All Utilities
↓ 8.9%
Martins Ferry, OH
$699
River Rouge, MI
$637
Difference
$62.15
less
Groceries
↓ 4.9%
Martins Ferry, OH
$1,140
River Rouge, MI
$1,085
Difference
$55.38
less
Other
↑ 2.4%
Martins Ferry, OH
$1,774
River Rouge, MI
$1,817
Difference
$42.66
more
Healthcare
↑ 6.1%
Martins Ferry, OH
$607
River Rouge, MI
$644
Difference
$37.33
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$670
To$750
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$830
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$1,060
↑ $90.00
3 Bed
From$1,250
To$1,300
↑ $50.00
Martins Ferry, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

River Rouge, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Martins Ferry, OH
$7,412
Monthly in River Rouge, MI
$88.32
Difference

Home Values

Martins Ferry
River Rouge
$91K
Median Value
$83K
↑ +2.4%
YoY Change
↑ +3.7%
↑ +10.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +65.2%

Homes in River Rouge are 8% less expensive than Martins Ferry

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$162
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

Martins Ferry, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

River Rouge, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Martins Ferry, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

River Rouge, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Martins Ferry
River Rouge
52 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
47.8%
Good Air Days
32.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Martins Ferry, OH to River Rouge, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in River Rouge, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Martins Ferry, OH. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Martins Ferry to River Rouge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to River Rouge, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Martins Ferry, OH vs River Rouge, MI

How do the cost estimates for Martins Ferry, OH and River Rouge, MI compare?

River Rouge, MI has a modeled overall cost index 2.8% lower than Martins Ferry, OH. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Martins Ferry, OH, the model estimates $148,940 in River Rouge, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Martins Ferry, OH and River Rouge, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Martins Ferry, OH and $1,060/month in River Rouge, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Ohio and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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