Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 24% higher in Washington, DC. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,763
+38% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,885
+36% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,949
+15% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$2,249
+24% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$724,600
+67% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$106,287
+31% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$71,060
+28% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
34.9 yr
+7.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
45.6%
41.1%
+4.5 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
63.6%
+14.1 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
30.3 min
+10.4 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
936.3
+201% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,744.5
3,627.9
+108% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+10.5°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
39.7 in
+6.9 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
24.4
+6% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$27.28
+38% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
10.75%
+6.5 pp in DC

Ann Arbor vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Washington?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Washington?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).