Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 37% 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 $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH — about 36% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Cincinnati, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$791
+38% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$817
+41% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,023
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,228
+32% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$215,300
+51% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$51,707
+36% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$50,170
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
33.0 yr
+5.3 yr in Cincinnati, OH
Homeownership
45.6%
38.9%
+6.7 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
41.3%
+36.4 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.1 min
+3.2 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
856.5
+175% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,877.7
+122% in Cincinnati, OH

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
54.3°F
+6.6°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
41.9 in
+9.1 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.80/gal
+1% in Ann Arbor, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
19.2
+17% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$22.83
+16% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
2.75%
+1.5 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Cincinnati — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% 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 Cincinnati?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Cincinnati?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).