Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% 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 Provo?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Provo?

Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Ann Arbor vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 31% 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 $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 23% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,274

$1,009

+21% in Ann Arbor, MI

1 Bedroom

$1,389

$978

+30% in Ann Arbor, MI

2 Bedroom

$1,692

$1,128

+33% in Ann Arbor, MI

3 Bedroom

$1,812

$1,381

+24% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,100

$437,100

+0% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$81,089

$62,800

+23% in Ann Arbor, MI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,380

$48,010

+13% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.7 yr

23.7 yr

+4.0 yr in Ann Arbor, MI

Homeownership

45.6%

39.9%

+5.7 pp in Ann Arbor, MI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

77.7%

45.0%

+32.7 pp in Ann Arbor, MI

Avg Commute

19.9 min

18.5 min

+1.4 min in Ann Arbor, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

311

205.7

+34% in Ann Arbor, MI

Property Crime

1,744.5

1,280.6

+27% 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

53.4°F

+5.7°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

32.8 in

19.8 in

+13.1 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Provo, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

13.4

+42% in Ann Arbor, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$11.84

+40% in Ann Arbor, MI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Ann Arbor, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Ann Arbor, MI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / UT)

6.1%

+0.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

4.50%

+0.3 pp in UT

Ann Arbor vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% 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 Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Provo?: Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).