Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 1% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,468
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,688
+22% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$2,148
+27% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$2,489
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$879,500
+102% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$80,366
+1% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$55,850
+1% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
36.9 yr
+9.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
45.6%
36.3%
+9.3 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
37.8%
+39.9 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
31.1 min
+11.2 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
730.3
+135% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,744.5
1,501.4
+14% 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
67.0°F
+19.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
21.2 in
+11.6 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.53/gal
+44% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
34.7
+51% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$20.33
+3% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
13.30%
+9.1 pp in CA

Ann Arbor vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Los Angeles?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Los Angeles?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).