Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 12% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,242
+3% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,324
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,673
+1% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,729
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$375,300
+14% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$71,302
+12% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$48,940
+12% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
35.6 yr
+7.9 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
45.6%
50.2%
+4.6 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
44.6%
+33.1 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.7 min
+4.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
443.2
+43% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
1,744.5
1,473.2
+16% 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
73.4°F
+25.7°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
46.3 in
+13.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.83/gal
+1% in Ann Arbor, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.1
+34% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$23.62
+20% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Tampa, FL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Ann Arbor vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Tampa?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).