Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 6% 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 $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 34% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,159
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,275
+8% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,473
+13% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,636
+10% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$249,000
+43% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$53,771
+34% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$60,060
+8% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
31.9 yr
+4.2 yr in New Haven, CT
Homeownership
45.6%
28.4%
+17.2 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
37.7%
+40.0 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
21.0 min
+1.1 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
536.3
+72% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,601.6
+106% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+4.5°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
47.1 in
+14.3 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in New Haven, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
24.3
+6% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$23.33
+18% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
6.99%
+2.7 pp in CT

Ann Arbor vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or New Haven?
New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% 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 New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or New Haven?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).