Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Aurora?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% 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 Aurora?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $46,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Aurora?

Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Ann Arbor vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Aurora, CO. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 20% 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 $85,364 in Aurora, CO — about 5% higher in Aurora, CO. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI

Aurora, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,274

—

1 Bedroom

$1,389

$1,138

+18% in Ann Arbor, MI

2 Bedroom

$1,692

$2,284

+35% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,812

$2,320

+28% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,100

$689,000

+58% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$81,089

$85,364

+5% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,380

$62,320

+13% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.7 yr

35.3 yr

+7.6 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

45.6%

46.0%

+0.4 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

77.7%

41.4%

+36.3 pp in Ann Arbor, MI

Avg Commute

19.9 min

18.7 min

+1.2 min in Ann Arbor, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

311

952.9

+206% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

1,744.5

3,368.1

+93% in Aurora, CO

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

50.2°F

+2.5°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

32.8 in

15.6 in

+17.2 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.13/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

17.1

+25% in Ann Arbor, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$15.05

+24% in Ann Arbor, MI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Ann Arbor, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Ann Arbor, MI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / CO)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in MI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

4.40%

+0.2 pp in CO

Ann Arbor vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Aurora?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% 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 Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $46,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Aurora?: Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).