1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Bay City, MI
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bay City, Michigan as of July 2026. That's +24% lower than the citywide median of $964 and +48% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Bay City
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Bay City
Compare Bay City's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Michigan
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muskegon Heights | $724 |
| 2 | Bay City (this page) | $730 |
| 3 | Trenton | $764 |
| 4 | Flint | $785 |
| 5 | Mount Pleasant | $820 |
| 6 | Muskegon | $820 |
| 7 | Saginaw | $820 |
| 8 | Niles | $870 |
| 9 | Lansing | $887 |
| 10 | Monroe | $900 |
| 11 | Midland | $905 |
| 12 | Dewitt | $910 |
| 13 | Grand Blanc | $920 |
| 14 | Mount Clemens | $920 |
| 15 | Port Huron | $920 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Michigan
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | $1,640 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $1,513 |
| 3 | West Bloomfield | $1,490 |
| 4 | Bloomfield Hills | $1,490 |
| 5 | Commerce Township | $1,460 |
| 6 | Northville | $1,440 |
| 7 | Troy | $1,415 |
| 8 | Novi | $1,415 |
| 9 | Canton | $1,380 |
| 10 | Rochester Hills | $1,370 |
| 11 | Grosse Pointe Park | $1,370 |
| 12 | New Hudson | $1,360 |
| 13 | Farmington Hills | $1,340 |
| 14 | Oak Park | $1,310 |
| 15 | Royal Oak | $1,295 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher 1-bedroom rents than Bay City.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Bay City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 13.3 mi | $820 | +$90 (+12%) |
| Midland, MI | 30.8 mi | $905 | +$175 (+24%) |
| Flint, MI | 38.6 mi | $785 | +$55 (+8%) |
| Grand Blanc, MI | 46.7 mi | $920 | +$190 (+26%) |
| Lapeer, MI | 49.5 mi | $940 | +$210 (+29%) |
| Fenton, MI | 55.6 mi | $1,180 | +$450 (+62%) |
| Clarkston, MI | 64.8 mi | $1,270 | +$540 (+74%) |
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 65.4 mi | $820 | +$90 (+12%) |
| Howell, MI | 67.9 mi | $1,250 | +$520 (+71%) |
| East Lansing, MI | 69 mi | $1,020 | +$290 (+40%) |
| Dewitt, MI | 70.1 mi | $910 | +$180 (+25%) |
| Brighton, MI | 72.7 mi | $1,150 | +$420 (+58%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Bay City — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Bay City?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Bay City, Michigan is $730 per month. This is +24% below the citywide median of $964.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Bay City?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $29,200 ($2,433/month gross), which works out to roughly $14.04/hour at a full-time job.
Is Bay City expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Bay City's 1-bedroom median of $730 is +48% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 2th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Bay City rank for 1-bedroom rent in Michigan?
Among the 91 cities in Michigan with 1-bedroom data, Bay City ranks #2 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Bay City?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher 1-bedroom rents than Bay City.