Living on Mackinac Island: Is it possible & should you do it?
Curious about living on Mackinac Island? You’re in the right place.
Mackinac Island is a remote island off the coast of Michigan. Known as the “Jewel of the Great Lakes”, it is famous for its fudge, Victorian cottages, horse-drawn carriages and an abundance of natural beauty.
Being completely free of cars and chain hotels, Mackinac Island seems like the perfect place to relax and ‘get away from it all.’ You aren’t alone in dreaming about living there – people move there from the mainland U.S. every year, some seasonally and others attempting to become full-time residents.
However, not all of the people who move to Mackinac Island end up staying as long as they plan to. While living on the island comes with incredible rewards, there are many challenges to consider as well.
So, is Mackinac Island a good or even feasible place to live? As a Michigan native who is very familiar with Mackinac Island, I’m happy to give you all my insight on what you need to know about living on Mackinac Island and the things to keep in mind before making the move.
So, let’s get realistic about everything you need to know about living on Mackinac Island!
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Is Living on Mackinac Island Possible?
Living on Mackinac Island is possible; there are nearly 600 people that do so year-round. According to the 2020 census, there are exactly 583 people who call Mackinac Island their home.
That being said, it can be challenging to become a full-time resident of Mackinac Island, due to limited housing and jobs. Most job postings are for seasonal work, and finding year-round work is very hard.
Secondly, while many people are drawn to the idea of living somewhere car-free with a slow-paced lifestyle and tight-knit community, this lifestyle can sometimes be challenging to get used to. In exchange for the benefits of living there, you’re giving up a lot of everyday conveniences.
Locals on Mackinac Island see a lot of “dreamers” come to Mackinac Island to make the island their permanent home, only to give up eventually and move back to the mainland.
I’m going to give you a realistic idea of what you can expect from living on Mackinac Island, the pros and cons and what hurdles you’ll need to secure a year-round home there.

Where do Locals Live on Mackinac Island?
Locals on Mackinac Island live in a couple of different small neighborhoods on the west or southwest part of the island. The central and eastern side is almost entirely made up of state parks.
The main town of Mackinac Island is on the southern tip of the island; this is where the ferry docks that bring passengers to and from the mainland are, as well as a main street with restaurants, shops and hotels.
While there are a handful of year-round homes in the main town, it’s not where most residents tend to live.
The majority of locals on Mackinac Island live in a town called Harrisonville which is just north of the main town; about a 25-minute walk from the main street and the ferry docks.
Northwest of Harrisonville is another town called Stonecliffe, which is where the rest of the locals live. There are hotels, condos and houses as well as a few tourist attractions in Stonecliff.
If you’re planning on moving to Mackinac Island, you’d most likely be living in either Harrisonville or Stonecliffe, as finding a home in the main town is very rare.
Living in Harrisonville or Stonecliff means regularly finding a way to lug supplies from the ferry docks for the 25-30 minute trek home, and regularly making the trip back and forth, on foot or by bike. This is something that anyone wishing to move to Mackinac Island should consider.

Cost of Living on Mackinac Island
Houses on Mackinac Island tend to be fairly expensive, with costs ranging anywhere from 1-4 million dollars depending on the size of the house, the size of the land it’s on and the location. The closer to the main town the house is, the more expensive it will be.
In addition, vacant plots of land to build on Mackinac Island run from anywhere from $50k – $200k depending on the size of the plot and the location.
Another cost to take into consideration is heating. Most homes in Mackinac Island run on electric heaters, and the bills can run into the hundreds of dollars a month during the winter months.
While you won’t need a car to get around, it’s beneficial to have a bike, and possibly a snowmobile for the winter months. If you don’t already have these things, then this will be another expense to budget for.
Food costs will need to be taken into consideration as well. For both restaurants and groceries, you can expect to pay at least 1⁄3 more on Mackinac Island than what you would pay on the mainland – partially due to it being a touristy place, but also because of the cost and complication of importing everything there.
Pros and Cons of Living on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is a beautiful and unique place in Michigan to visit – but is it a good place to live? Here are the pros and cons of living on Mackinac Island. Let’s start with the pros – what makes Mackinac Island an amazing place to live year-round?
5 Pros of Living on Mackinac Island
- The strong, tight-knit community
The community on Mackinac Island is one of the best parts of living there. The people of Mackinac Island are known for being there for each other and having a strong support network. With less than 600 people, you can imagine how they get to know each other and grow up around one another.
The lines between different ‘classes’ on the island are virtually non-existent; you could see a cashier grabbing lunch with a millionaire, with no one thinking anything of it. It’s like having a large extended family.
Children on Mackinac Island grow up in a way that may have been common in the 1960s or 70s on the mainland, but is almost unheard of now – they’re outside all day, playing barefoot on the grass in the summertime, and out until dark.
Having a supportive network of friends and neighbors is something that many of us long for, but is becoming harder and harder to find. This is part of why living on Mackinac Island seems so appealing. - Living without the reliance of a car
Life becomes simpler and easier when cars aren’t involved. No sitting in traffic jams, circling aimlessly looking for a parking spot or having to worry about repairs or gas refills.
Living without a car gives up some of the conveniences that we’re used to, but it comes with many benefits which free up time, stress and money in our wallets.
Many of us don’t know how relaxing it is to walk around outside without having to worry about cars coming. There’s a certain ease of mind in being able to live somewhere that is car-free that many of us couldn’t even imagine.
Pro Tip: Many residents on Mackinac Island, do in fact, own cars – but they can’t bring them on the island. Instead, they park them in St. Ignace and use them whenever they take the ferry or seaplane across. - Being surrounded by untouched nature
If you’re a nature lover, then Mackinac Island is a haven – there is such an
abundance of untouched scenery, and urbanization is kept to a minimum. You have easy access to lakes, old-growth forests, beaches and incredible sunsets
over Lake Superior.
You can walk around the whole island in just a few hours, or explore one of the many hiking trails on Mackinac Island, enjoying all of this natural beauty.
After the sun sets, there are many excellent places on the island to stargaze from. With so little light pollution compared to other parts of the world, you can expect to see clear night skies with a beautiful panorama of stars on Mackinac Island. - You get your exercise in, without trying!
Most of us have to make a point of heading to the gym or doing a workout video to get enough activity into our day.
On Mackinac Island, you would be more likely to get enough movement in just from daily activity. With many places, you need to be a 20-30 minute walk from each other, and you get your steps in without having to think about it.
In addition, it’s not just about walking or biking – it’s about hauling things. Those bags of groceries that you normally throw into your car trunk? Try walking or biking with them for half an hour.
While this sounds tiresome to some, it’s the kind of exercise and movement that humans were built for and thrive on.
Ultimately, the lack of cars helps residents on Mackinac Island be more healthy, physically and mentally. - The quiet
The main street in the summertime can be a bustling place with all the businesses open, the tourists, and horse-drawn carriages. But other than that, Mackinac Island is quiet compared to other touristy destinations.
With so few people and a lack of automobiles, you’d be amazed at the silence and solitude you can experience on the island. It allows you to thoroughly take in the sounds of nature – the birds, and waves on the shoreline.
If you’re someone who relishes peace, and you crave tranquillity, then Mackinac Island might be just the place for you.

5 Cons of Living on Mackinac Island
Now, let’s talk about the cons of living on Mackinac Island.
- It can be hard to make friends…initially
Mackinac Island is known for its strong community, but don’t expect an outpour of support and friendships from the second you step off the dock. Locals on Mackinac Island have seen many people come and go over the years so even though you may plan to stick around, they don’t know that (nor will they believe it right away, anyway.)
If you’re a parent with kids in school, then keep in mind that there will only be a few other children their age. Typically, graduating classes on Mackinac Island only have a handful of students receiving their diplomas at a time.
Pro Tip: A good way to make friends after moving to Mackinac Island is to volunteer. Many organizations will welcome your help with open arms, including churches, libraries, emergency services or community fundraisers.
- It’s expensive
Not only are certain things, such as food and rent, more expensive than average on Mackinac Island, but most of the jobs don’t pay enough to account for the pricier cost of living.
Because of the high cost of living, it can take a long time to start being able to make a profit and save while living on the island if you live there full time.
If you move to Mackinac Island, you’ll need to live on a budget and without many of the conveniences and luxuries that you might be used to elsewhere. What you save in car expenses, you’ll make up for by paying extra for groceries.
Good to Know: If you’re only planning to move to Mackinac Island during the summer in employer-provided housing, then it’s a different story. You can save a lot of money with the low rent costs and working several hours at your tourism industry job.
- The winters are brutal
Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; it is cold compared to most other places in the U.S.
There’s an average of 94 inches of snow, and the temperatures reach an average low of 10° to 14° F.
Many people who move to Mackinac Island crave remoteness, but that remoteness becomes even more prevalent in the cold months when the ferries shut down.
From November to March, your only way of getting to the mainland is to take a
snowmobile across a frozen lake, or a seaplane.
This could make trips across more complicated, so when given the opportunity, most residents shop as if it’s the apocalypse and get everything they need. Most of us aren’t used to having to live this way.
In addition, only two restaurants on the island remain open during the winter. Winter is quieter, more isolated, and much colder than most of us are used to.
If you don’t already love winter, then you might want to rethink living in Mackinac Island year-round!
- Jobs and homes are very limited
Most jobs in Mackinac run during the tourist season, from April to October. Many people move to Mackinac Island for the summer only just to work in these seasonal jobs.
The only way to work year-round on Mackinac Island is to work remotely or to have a high-skill job such as an electrician, teacher or doctor that is needed during all 12 months of the year.
As you can imagine, with a small population of less than 600, only a limited number of these positions are needed or available and finding them is very tricky. It is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time or knowing somebody.
In addition, there are very few vacant homes on Mackinac Island, and residential growth is kept to a minimum.
There have been recent home developments in the past few years, such as single-family homes and a set of townhomes, built for year-round Island residents. The challenge though? Being able to secure one of them, since there are so few.
- The complication of running errands
It’s a lot more work to live on Mackinac Island than most people give it credit for.
Being able to pop out to the store when we’re missing that one ingredient we need for a stirfry, or ordering DoorDash when we’re too lazy to cook is an underrated convenience that can be a bit of a shock once you suddenly have to live without it.
Your favorite fast-food chain restaurant will become a much rarer treat. The closest Walmart is in Cheboygan, where you’ll need to take a ferry and a shuttle to get there. (The shuttle is only available in the summer.)
You likely already know that running errands and getting around on Mackinac Island isn’t as simple as hopping into a car or a bus. The result is that you will need to do most things yourself – cook, make coffee, and run errands on foot or by bike.

Should You Move to Mackinac Island?
Should you move to Mackinac Island? It depends. To live on Mackinac Island, you must love nature and simplicity, and be ok with harsh winter and remoteness.
By moving to Mackinac Island, you get a slower-paced lifestyle and access to incredible nature. But you’re giving up a lot of things, and this requires very deep thought about whether you can realistically handle that for years on end.
You might be well suited to life on Mackinac Island if:
● You’re prepared to live without easy access to typical everyday comforts that many of us have become accustomed to.
● You have no complicated health conditions. The Island Medical Center can treat everyday health needs, but for emergencies or to see a specialist, then the closest medical centers require a full day trip off the island
● You’re comfortable with giving up how easy it currently is to visit friends and family and you enjoy being on your own for long stretches of time.
● You’re a nature lover who is ready to embrace all types of weather, from hot and buggy summers to brutal winters with an average of almost 100 inches of snow, then you might be a great fit for the northern ‘islander’ lifestyle.
● You’re okay with physically exerting yourself daily, and working hard to make sure your pantry is full and dinners are cooked (with a bigger lack of ingredients than you’re used to having), then you might be just fine on Mackinac Island.
Of course, many people say they want or are ok with these things, but change their minds once the reality sets in. It can be a hard way to live, and it can be lonely and isolating before you start to make friends and build a community.
This is why many people move to Mackinac Island, but change their minds after a winter or two.
If you’re moving to Mackinac Island for seasonal work:
Keep in mind that housing is often offered by the employer, and the rent usually costs $200-400 and is deducted from your paycheque.
If you have pets, then keep in mind that it might be a deal breaker for some employers as the housing provided is usually shared with others.
If you’re moving to Mackinac Island to work remotely
People who plan to work remotely on Mackinac Island should know that the island has a very good internet connection. The fastest provider is EarthLink Fiber and it offers a speed of up to 5Gbps.
In addition, there are a couple of quiet places to work remotely in the main town, such as the library, and coffee shops.

How to Move to Mackinac Island
First of all, Mackinac Island belongs to the state of Michigan. So, to live on Mackinac Island permanently, you’ll need to be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
To move to Mackinac Island, the first thing you’ll need to decide is where you’re going to live and work.
There are three options in terms of finding work on Mackinac Island:
1) Work remotely at a job you already have
2) Start your own business
3) Find a job on the island -seasonal (easier to come by but only get paid for 6
months out of the year ) or year-round (much harder to find, and generally only professions for which you need a degree, such as an engineer or teacher.)
Seasonal Jobs on Mackinac Island
Seasonal jobs on Mackinac Island include positions like waitstaff, fudge maker,
housekeeper or retail. You can apply for seasonal jobs on Mackinac Island on the careers website here. I also recommend that you follow the Mackinac Island jobs Facebook page which posts a variety of seasonal job opportunities.
Often, room and board will be provided by your employer for seasonal jobs, but normally this accommodation would only be for the duration of your employment.
Year-Round Jobs on Mackinac Island
If you’re not looking for a seasonal job and wish to relocate to Mackinac Island
permanently, then it might be a bit trickier to find work.
For year-round jobs, you can search Indeed for jobs on Mackinac Island. However, don’t be surprised to see that there aren’t many.
Since your housing for year-round jobs won’t usually be provided, you’ll have to look for your own place to live, either a rental or a purchase of a home.
Purchasing a Home on Mackinac Island
Homes for purchase on Mackinac Island can be found on Realtor.com. In addition, there are vacant plots of land where a home can be built that are often for sale.
Pro Tip: One of the best ways to find a suitable home and job is to first visit the island, scope the neighborhoods out and see what living there would be like. I recommend finding a short-term rental on Booking.com.

Living on Mackinac Island: FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about moving to Mackinac Island, and what it’s like to live there
Yes, you can live on Mackinac Island in the winter – almost 600 people live there year-round. However, winter on Mackinac can be tough for those who aren’t used to it. It’s very cold, with lots of snow. In addition, the ferries to the mainland aren’t running in the winter, so transportation is trickier.
Yes, it’s quite expensive to live on Mackinac Island. There is limited housing, which raises the value of the available homes. Many food products are expensive since they need to be shipped from the mainland, which increases the cost. Heating and transportation to the mainland to get supplies is another expense.
Yes, there are almost 600 people who live on Mackinac Island year-round. Some have been living on the island for generations, while others have moved there in the last 5-20 years and have built a new life there.
There aren’t any celebrities who live on the island full-time, but there are some celebrities who are said to own real estate there. Mackinac Island is also a popular place for stars looking to vacation in peace. Stars like Kid Rock and Ron Howard from Happy Days have been spotted there.
Final Thoughts: Living on Mackinac Island
By now, you know some of the ins and outs of living on Mackinac Island. You might be feeling inspired, or possibly deflated when considering the realities of moving to this uniquely beautiful and remote community.
While Mackinac Island isn’t for everyone and doesn’t bring many of the conveniences we’re used to, it offers a lot in return. A lifestyle that offers you more time for everything good for you – family, friends, and lots of time outdoors surrounded by nature.
Starting to feel like Mackinac Island might not be for you? Keep in mind that a lot of what draws you to it can be found on the mainland as well. There are a lot of small towns surrounded by incredible nature in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Moving to one of these destinations might be a better option if you’re not able to find housing on Mackinac Island, or if you’ve decided that maybe the island lifestyle isn’t for you.
I wish you the best in your decision about living on Mackinac Island and hope that this has helped bring you closer to your conclusions.
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