Portage, MI at a glance
Median household income
$83,212$6,934 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Portage, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Portage, MI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $838 | $10,056 | $33,520 | 12.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $998 | $11,976 | $39,920 | 14.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,162 | $13,944 | $46,480 | 16.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,531 | $18,372 | $61,240 | 22.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,571 | $18,852 | $62,840 | 22.7% |
What a typical income covers in Portage, MI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $83,212 a year ($6,934 a month before tax).
What $83,212 leaves after Michigan taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Michigan tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Michigan
Living in Portage, MI: common questions
What is the median household income in Portage, MI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Portage, MI is $83,212 per year (approximately $6,934 per month).
What is the average rent in Portage, MI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $838 for a studio, $998 for one bedroom, $1,162 for two, $1,531 for three and $1,571 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Portage, MI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 94.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Portage, MI?
To keep a $1,162 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $46,480 a year, or $3,873 a month. That is 56% of what the typical household in Portage, MI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Portage, MI?
On the local median income of $83,212 ($6,934 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,467 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,080 for everything else and $1,387 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,162 takes 34% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Portage, MI?
Homes in Michigan paid 23¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $207. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.