Detroit already has a lower cost of living compared to other major U.S. cities — and plenty of amenities, like great music, authentic food, beautiful natural spaces, and an eclectic art scene.

Still, we’re all feeling the effects of inflation, and it can be hard to know how to have a good time without breaking the bank. So, here are some of our favorite ways to live the best life in Detroit on a budget.

Borrow tools for free from the Carhartt Workshop Tool Bench 5800 Cass Ave., Detroit; carhartt.com/carhartt-workshop Above Carhartt’s flagship store in Detroit is the company’s Carhartt Workshop Tool Bench, where people can check out tools free of charge for seven days. You can explore their tool library to see what’s in stock. Credit: Carhartt/Yelp
Get awesome housewares for a great price at Mama Coo’s Boutique 1701 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/mamacoosboutique If you’re getting a new apartment and want one-of-a-kind home decor, this quirky shop in Corktown has it. Follow their Instagram to be the first to snatch up new items. Credit: Instagram, @mamacoosboutique
Live in a Dreamtroit studio 5926 Lincoln St., Detroit; dlandgroup.com/dreamtroit The Lincoln Street Art Park is like a wonderland for artists, and the space now has studio apartments available for work, living, or both. The new graffiti-filled housing in the city has units available for as low as $364. Plus, you will never be far from the art park’s famous full-moon parties. Credit: Randiah Camille Green
Vernors will heal you Every Detroiter knows that the city’s magical elixir is Vernors. Invented by a pharmacist more than a century ago, Detroiters will grab this ginger ale to cure any malady. And it’s much cheaper than paying those price-gouging pharmaceutical companies. Credit: Shutterstock
Buy affordable art supplies at Arts & Scraps for your next creative project 16135 Harper Ave., Detroit; artsandscraps.org Shopping at local thrift and resale shops is great for your style and your budget, but this one is one of the hottest in Detroit. Pay attention to Not Sorry Goods’ Instagram and head to Ferndale when the store is hosting a fill-a-bag day. You’ll get a bunch of awesome clothes at a super discounted price. Credit: Facebook, Arts&Scraps
Discover new music with 94-cent vinyls at People’s Records 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; peoplesdetroit.com New records can cost a lot, but finding hidden gems at local record stores like this is the best part of the record-collecting experience. People’s Records has tons of records and cassettes, some priced at less than a dollar. So, look thoroughly for some great cheap finds. The store also buys records, if you have any old ones you would want to sell to make some cash. Credit: Layla McMurtrie
Learn how to dance with free salsa lessons at Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine 1250 Library St., Detroit; vicentesdetroit.com Every Friday and Saturday night from 10:30 p.m. to close, this local Cuban restaurant holds free salsa lessons. The class is for both beginners who need to learn the basics and experts who want to pick up some new moves. Credit: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine/Facebook
Save money on books by signing up for a library card If you’re a book lover, no need to spend a ton of money on novels. Get a Detroit Public Library card to have access to nearly 20 branches of the largest library system in the state without spending a dime. Credit: Shutterstock
Borrow a laptop from Detroit Public Library Libraries aren’t just for books, either. Anyone with a Detroit Public Library card can take advantage of its “Laptop to Go” program, which allows individuals to check out a laptop for personal use. The laptops come with Wi-Fi capabilities, a camera, speaker and microphone, and Microsoft Office Suite. Credit: Shutterstock
Find free activites on the Riverwalk The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts tons of free activities near the river year-round. Some include free yoga, tai chi, plant walks, and concerts. In the winter, there are also free wellness classes for physical fitness and mental health. Credit: Cody Ross, Detroit Stock City
Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts for free to see some art 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org One of the best art museums in the country is free to residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. For days when you need to see some art, hit the DIA to feel the creative spark. Stop by the nearby Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit as well if you have time, since it’s free for everyone. Credit: MT file photo
Hit Not Sorry Goods on fill-a-bag days for cheap hip clothing 22963 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; notsorrygoods.com Shopping at local thrift and resale shops is great for your style and your bank, and this one is one of the hottest around Detroit. Pay attention to Not Sorry Goods’s Instagram and head to Ferndale when the store is hosting a fill-a-bag day. You’ll get a bunch of awesome clothes at a super discounted price. Credit: Courtesy photo
The Congregation 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit; 313-307-5518; thecongregationdetroit.com The Congregation is a cafe built in a former church with a killer deck. Credit: Google Maps
Park in New Center or Midtown and take the QLine City life comes with the major annoyance of parking. While there are a lot of areas of Detroit where finding free parking is easy, it can be difficult downtown on a busy day. So, if you’re getting ready for a concert or other event and want to spend less, you can park further north for as low as $5. The QLine streetcar isn’t always on time, but it can be worth it to use to save some cash. Just be sure to plan ahead. Credit: Steve Neavling
Find cheap parking and walk to big events Sometimes Detroit’s casinos offer free parking, sometimes they don’t. It’s worth a try to check though if you’re going to a concert or sports game downtown, rather than paying anywhere from $20 to $60. Otherwise, the Z Lot garage downtown is a good option as it (usually) stays at a flat rate of $10. If you can find street parking and pay through the Park Detroit app, that’s a cheap option, too. Get your steps in and save some money. Credit: Tom Perkins
Let Sunday be your downtown day so parking is free If you’re really fed up with paying for parking in downtown Detroit, you may have one last option — so long as you can choose what to day to visit. Parking is free every Sunday, so if you plan all of your downtown outings for that day, you’ll save a bit of money. Credit: Facebook, Beacon Park Detroit
Attend your favorite festival for free by volunteering Be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities at big festivals like Movement or Electric Forest. Often, just a few hours of help will get you a free day pass. Credit: Kahn Santori Davison
La Jalisciense Supermercado Y Taqueria 3923 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-551-0522; lajalisciensedetroit.com Located inside a grocery store, this family-owned restaurant has tacos starting at $1.59, with chips for just 99¢ — among many other Mexican favorites. Credit: chaunceyfrancois/Instagram
Swim at the Belle Isle beach No need to travel far or pay more for a beach when there’s one right in the heart of the city. With an annual pass that costs just $10 per car, Belle Isle offers many free activities including the oldest aquarium in the country, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a nature center, tons of parks, and more. While some local residents are wary about swimming in the city due to pollution, it’s usually safe due to how fast the Detroit River’s current flows. Credit: Hannah Ervin, Detroit Stock City
Visit a 24/7 drive-thru coney for late night food Sometimes you want something that tastes a little better than McDonald’s when the 3 a.m. hunger hits. Luckily in Detroit, we got coney islands open all night long, and some even have drive-thrus. Credit: Lee DeVito
Have a Motor City birthday with free local gifts You can get a free car wash at metro Detroit’s Jax Kar Wash, a free coffee at Biggby, and a free four-square pizza at Buddy’s. All you need to do is sign-up for each rewards program to receive the gifts on your special day. Credit: Courtesy photo

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Layla McMurtrie is the digital editor of Detroit Metro Times. She's passionate about art, music, food, and Detroit's culture and community. Her work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Between...