Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 9% 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 $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 3% higher in Colorado Springs, 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
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$998
+22% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,305
+6% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,504
+11% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,881
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$420,700
+3% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$83,198
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$52,710
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
35.6 yr
+7.9 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
45.6%
61.3%
+15.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
41.9%
+35.8 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.8 min
+2.9 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
722.1
+132% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,488.7
+100% in Colorado Springs, 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
49.0°F
+1.3°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
16.5 in
+16.3 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.13/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Mountain Metro (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 Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
4.40%
+0.2 pp in CO

Ann Arbor vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% 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 Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Colorado Springs?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs 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).