Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 15% 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 $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 6% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,310
+3% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,191
+14% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,393
+18% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,721
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$277,300
+36% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$76,602
+6% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$51,440
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
33.4 yr
+5.7 yr in Fort Worth, TX
Homeownership
45.6%
56.7%
+11.1 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
31.7%
+46.0 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
26.9 min
+7.0 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
465.2
+50% in Fort Worth, TX
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,735.7
+57% in Fort Worth, TX

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
65.7°F
+18.0°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
36.1 in
+3.3 in in Fort Worth, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.58/gal
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.9
+31% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$31.89
+62% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Fort Worth, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Fort Worth?
Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% 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 Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Fort Worth?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).