Cost of living in Ann Arbor: rent, homes and salary
In 2024, the cost of living in Ann Arbor stood 0.9% above the US average. Its BEA regional price parity (RPP) was 100.9 for the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, against 100 for the US, and housing alone was 125.3.
- Level of prices
- 100.9US = 100, BEA 2024
- Level of housing prices
- 125.3 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Ann Arbor
With the US average set at 100, regional price parity compares costs for an identical basket of goods and services in one place with that average. BEA prices the Ann Arbor, MI metro area as a whole, and Ann Arbor sits inside it. Housing (rents) sits furthest from the US average, at 125.3, or 25.3% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Ann Arbor, MI metro | Michigan | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | 96.2 | +0.9% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.0 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 125.3 | 82.3 | +25.3% |
| Utilities | 98.2 | 100.2 | −1.8% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100.9 | −0.4% |
The 2024 regional price parities cover metro areas and states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA regional price parities
Ann Arbor rents
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts the typical asking rent in Ann Arbor at $2,026 a month, +1.3% on a year. ZORI measures rent on homes listed now. Across the US, it is $1,932. Census median gross rent covers every renting household, not only new leases, and comes to $1,723. One year of the asking rent equals 30% of the median household income.
| Rent | Ann Arbor | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,026 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.3% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,723 | $1,487 |
| A year of asking rent, as a share of median income | 30% | 28% |
Sources: Zillow Observed Rent Index, and Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 figures (one-year estimates).
What homes cost in Ann Arbor
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) places a typical Ann Arbor home at $517,346 in September 2026. It measures the value of a home near the market’s midpoint. The yearly change is +3.0%. For comparison, the US figure is $366,157. The price equals 6.4 years at the median household income level, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Ann Arbor | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $517,346 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +3.0% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +62.5% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.4 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 21.3 | 15.8 |
The price chart since 2000, days on market and the forecast: housing market for Ann Arbor.
The salary required to live in Ann Arbor
In Ann Arbor, the salary needed to preserve what your current pay buys depends on two things: your earnings and your location.
- Moving from
- Salary
Every city side by side, and the method behind it: city cost of living comparison.
Moving to Ann Arbor? Compare moving quotes on Moving.com, a mover-quote service; we are not paid for this link.
Ann Arbor cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rental cost | Home value, typical figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | 100.9 | 125.3 | $2,026 | $517,346 |
| Detroit | 100.3 | 94.7 | $1,328 | $74,742 |
| Grand Rapids | 95.5 | 86.6 | $1,602 | $303,937 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Rent comes from Zillow ZORI. Zillow ZHVI, September 2026 provides the home value figure.
Cost of living rankings for each city: cost of living comparison by city. All states: living costs by state.