Cost of Living in Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI scores 110 on the cost-of-living index — about 10% more expensive than the US average of 100, and #21 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: Ann Arbor vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in Ann Arbor to keep the same standard of living.
To live the way $100,000 affords in Ann Arbor, MI, you would need about $170,000 in New York City, NY — roughly 70.0% more.
| Category | Ann Arbor | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 110 | 187 | +70% |
| Housing | 122 | 287 | +135% |
| Groceries | 104 | 137 | +32% |
| Utilities | 106 | 130 | +23% |
| Transportation | 105 | 120 | +14% |
| Healthcare | 103 | 128 | +24% |
Ann Arbor cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | +10% |
| Housing | 122 | +22% |
| Groceries | 104 | +4% |
| Utilities | 106 | +6% |
| Transportation | 105 | +5% |
| Healthcare | 103 | +3% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ann Arbor expensive to live in?
Ann Arbor, MI has a cost-of-living index of 110, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 10% more expensive than a typical US city, and ranks it #21 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 122.
What is the cost-of-living index for Ann Arbor?
The overall index is 110 (US average = 100). By category: housing 122, groceries 104, utilities 106, transportation 105 and healthcare 103. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in Ann Arbor?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in Ann Arbor to keep the same standard of living.
How is the Ann Arbor cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in Ann Arbor?
In Ann Arbor, healthcare is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 103), while housing is the priciest (index 122).