Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/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 $1,790 in Atlanta, GA. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $81,938 in Atlanta, GA — about 1% higher in Atlanta, GA. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Atlanta, GA

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,669
+31% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,576
+13% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,701
+1% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,557
+14% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$420,600
+3% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$81,938
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$51,170
+8% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
34.0 yr
+6.3 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
45.6%
46.3%
+0.7 pp in Atlanta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
58.4%
+19.3 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
26.8 min
+6.9 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
603.7
+94% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,548.3
+103% in Atlanta, GA

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
62.6°F
+14.9°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
49.7 in
+16.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Atlanta, GA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MARTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
16.4
+29% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$38.60
+96% in Atlanta, GA

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 Atlanta, GA
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 / GA)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
5.19%
+0.9 pp in GA

Ann Arbor vs Atlanta — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Atlanta?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Atlanta?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $63,000 in Atlanta.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Atlanta?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Atlanta under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).