Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 19% 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 $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 13% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$992
+22% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,181
+15% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,401
+17% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,740
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$395,300
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$70,723
+13% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$46,670
+16% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
38.5 yr
+10.8 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
45.6%
55.7%
+10.1 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
27.3%
+50.4 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
25.8 min
+5.9 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
433.3
+39% in Las Vegas, NV
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,642.1
+51% in Las Vegas, NV

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
68.4°F
+20.7°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
5.4 in
+27.4 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
13.1
+43% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$13.83
+30% in Ann Arbor, MI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Las Vegas, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Las Vegas, NV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / NV)
6%
6.85%
+0.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Las Vegas?
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% 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 Las Vegas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Las Vegas?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).