Cost of Living: Detroit, MI vs Ann Arbor, MI

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,268/mo in Detroit, MI versus $4,268/mo in Ann Arbor, MI. In the model, rent is about 15.07% of gross in Detroit, MI versus 22.61% in Ann Arbor, MI, so Detroit, MI tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Detroit, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Ann Arbor, MI
$4,268/mo
Income level: below
Rent share (1BR) in Detroit, MI
15.07%
COLI tier: lower-cost
Rent share (1BR) in Ann Arbor, MI
22.61%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Detroit, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Detroit, MI
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Detroit, MI
  • Lower home prices: Detroit, MI
  • Higher median household income: Ann Arbor, MI

Cost of Living Index

Detroit, MI: 78.4 (U.S. = 100) · Ann Arbor, MI: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Detroit, MI has a lower cost-of-living index than Ann Arbor, MI, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Detroit, MI: $983/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Ann Arbor, MI: $1,475/mo

Median rent in Ann Arbor, MI is $492/mo higher than in Detroit, MI.

Median Home Price

Detroit, MI: $76,800 · Ann Arbor, MI: $435,100

Median home price in Ann Arbor, MI is $358,300 higher than in Detroit, MI.

Median Household Income

Detroit, MI: $39,575 · Ann Arbor, MI: $81,089

Ann Arbor, MI has a higher median household income than Detroit, MI by $41,514.

Detroit, MI overview · Ann Arbor, MI overview · Popular comparisons