Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 46% higher in Naperville, IL. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,713
+34% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,594
+15% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,889
+12% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$2,446
+35% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$509,900
+17% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$150,937
+86% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$54,720
+1% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
40.1 yr
+12.4 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
45.6%
74.3%
+28.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
71.7%
+6.0 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
31.4 min
+11.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
85.7
+72% in Ann Arbor, MI
Property Crime
1,744.5
892.2
+49% 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
49.9°F
+2.2°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
36.9 in
+4.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
19.9
+13% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$19.71
about equal

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 / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
4.95%
+0.7 pp in IL

Ann Arbor vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Naperville?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Naperville?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).