Cost of living index

Ann Arbor, MI

100.9 / 100

Living in Ann Arbor, MI is 0.9% more expensive than the US average — the #69 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,400/mo

Median home value: $353,000

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Ann Arbor, MI metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
34° / 18°F
(1° / -8°C)
4.9 in precip
Spring
58° / 35°F
(14° / 2°C)
8.3 in precip
Summer
82° / 56°F
(28° / 13°C)
9.5 in precip
Fall
61° / 39°F
(16° / 4°C)
7.1 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from ANN ARBOR MUNI AP, via NOAA.

The Ann Arbor, MI metro area has an overall price level of 100.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 0.9% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 125.3 it is 25.3% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#69 of 387
100.9
Goods#336 of 387
93.7
Housing rents#32 of 387
125.3
Utilities#96 of 387
98.2
Other services#88 of 387
99.6

Ann Arbor, MI is moved up the most by housing rents, at 125.3 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

See all 15 metros in Michigan →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Ann Arbor, MI an expensive place to live?

Ann Arbor, MI has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 0.9% more expensive than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Ann Arbor, MI?

Housing rents in Ann Arbor, MI score 125.3 against a US average of 100 — roughly 25.3% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Ann Arbor, MI compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Ann Arbor, MI sit at 100.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 125.3. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.