Detroit, MI · Riverside, CA

Cost of Living: Detroit vs Riverside

Living in Detroit, MI costs 5.8% less than in Riverside, CA: a $100,000 salary in Detroit, MI buys what $106,126 buys in Riverside, CA, based on BEA regional price parities for 2024.

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Detroit vs Riverside: prices, pay and housing

Detroit, MIRiverside, CA
BEA price parity (U.S. = 100)100.3106.4
Average salary, all jobs$69,210$65,160
Median salary, all jobs$52,080$48,400
Average salary adjusted for prices$69,004$61,216
Take-home on the average salary*$53,302$52,396
Typical home value$269,080$585,378
Median household income$75,123$86,031
Home price / household income3.66.8
Metro population4,367,6204,637,725

*Single filer, federal and state income tax and FICA (2026 rules); city income taxes included where we model them.

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Equivalent salary: Detroit to Riverside

To keep the same standard of living when moving from Detroit to Riverside, multiply your salary by 1.061.

Salary in DetroitSame buying power in Riverside
$50,000 in Detroit$53,063 in Riverside
$75,000 in Detroit$79,594 in Riverside
$100,000 in Detroit$106,126 in Riverside
$150,000 in Detroit$159,189 in Riverside
$200,000 in Detroit$212,251 in Riverside

Salaries for common jobs in Detroit and Riverside

JobDetroitRiversideAdjusted for prices
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,830$35,430$34,727 / $33,286
Stockers and Order Fillers$39,120$43,350$39,004 / $40,726
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$43,010$46,160$42,882 / $43,366
Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,860$41,250$30,768 / $38,753
Retail Salespersons$39,030$41,230$38,914 / $38,735
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,070$64,130$57,897 / $60,249
Cashiers$32,050$38,650$31,955 / $36,311
Registered Nurses$95,460$136,670$95,176 / $128,399
Office Clerks, General$47,000$48,180$46,860 / $45,264
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,460$49,840$50,310 / $46,824
General and Operations Managers$133,060$126,430$132,665 / $118,778
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$35,700$46,310$35,594 / $43,507
Security Guards$40,790$42,090$40,669 / $39,543
Waiters and Waitresses$45,080$45,660$44,946 / $42,897
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,780$44,240$37,668 / $41,563
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary

Adjusted = average salary divided by the BEA price parity: what it buys in a typical U.S. metro.

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Detroit vs Riverside: questions

Is Detroit more expensive than Riverside?

No. BEA prices are 100.3 in Detroit, MI and 106.4 in Riverside, CA (U.S. = 100).

What salary do I need in Riverside to match $100,000 in Detroit?

About $106,126, before taxes.

Where do salaries go further, Detroit or Riverside?

Detroit, MI: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.

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