Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,380 in Arlington, TX. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $73,519 in Arlington, TX — about 9% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Arlington, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,088
+15% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,183
+15% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,410
+17% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,819
+0% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$276,400
+36% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$73,519
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$51,440
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
33.6 yr
+5.9 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
45.6%
54.8%
+9.2 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
33.1%
+44.6 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
26.7 min
+6.8 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
494.2
+59% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,434.5
+40% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.7°F
65.4°F
+17.7°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
39.6 in
+6.8 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.58/gal
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
N/A

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Arlington On-Demand (Via) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.9
+31% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$31.89
+62% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Arlington, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Arlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Arlington?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Arlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $47,000 in Arlington.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Arlington?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).