Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 22% 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 $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 19% 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
Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,014
+20% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,059
+24% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,276
+25% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,369
+24% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$234,500
+46% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$65,327
+19% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$51,340
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
33.0 yr
+5.3 yr in Columbus, OH
Homeownership
45.6%
44.3%
+1.3 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
38.2%
+39.5 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
21.8 min
+1.9 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
485.2
+56% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,093.9
+77% in Columbus, 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
52.7°F
+5.0°F in Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
40.1 in
+7.3 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

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

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

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

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Columbus?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% 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 Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Columbus?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Columbus 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).