Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Concord?

Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 Concord?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $45,000 in Concord.

Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Concord?

Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Ann Arbor vs Concord Cost of Living 2026

Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Concord, NH. Overall, Concord, NH is roughly 13% 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 $83,701 in Concord, NH — about 3% higher in Concord, NH. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI

Concord, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,274

$876

+31% in Ann Arbor, MI

1 Bedroom

$1,389

$1,134

+18% in Ann Arbor, MI

2 Bedroom

$1,692

$1,475

+13% in Ann Arbor, MI

3 Bedroom

$1,812

$1,769

+2% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,100

$323,700

+26% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income

$81,089

$83,701

+3% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,380

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.7 yr

40.7 yr

+13.0 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

45.6%

57.4%

+11.8 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

77.7%

40.1%

+37.6 pp in Ann Arbor, MI

Avg Commute

19.9 min

23.2 min

+3.3 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

311

180.7

+42% in Ann Arbor, MI

Property Crime

1,744.5

1,251.5

+28% in Ann Arbor, MI

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

46.4°F

+1.3°F in Ann Arbor, MI

Annual Precipitation

32.8 in

40.6 in

+7.8 in in Concord, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

27.0

+17% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$21.67

+10% in Concord, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Ann Arbor, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Concord, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in MI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

None

+4.3 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Concord — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Concord?: Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 Concord?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $45,000 in Concord.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Concord?: Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).