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Ann Arbor, MI vs Washington, DC

Moving from Ann Arbor to Washington? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($422,945 → $583,013 median home) and taxes.

Ann Arbor vs Washington at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Ann Arbor, MI Washington, DC Cost-of-living index Ann Arbor, MI — Cost-of-living index: 98 98 Washington, DC — Cost-of-living index: 110 110 Median home price Ann Arbor, MI — Median home price: $423k $423k Washington, DC — Median home price: $583k $583k Price per sqft Ann Arbor, MI — Price per sqft: $256 $256 Washington, DC — Price per sqft: $389 $389 Median rent Ann Arbor, MI — Median rent: $2,068 $2,068 Washington, DC — Median rent: $2,416 $2,416 Combined sales tax Ann Arbor, MI — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Washington, DC — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Property tax rate Ann Arbor, MI — Property tax rate: 1.56% 1.56% Washington, DC — Property tax rate: 0.95% 0.95% Violent crime /100k Ann Arbor, MI — Violent crime /100k: 460 460 Washington, DC — Violent crime /100k: 1,000 1,000 Electricity ¢/kWh Ann Arbor, MI — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.4 21.4 Washington, DC — Electricity ¢/kWh: 25.4 25.4 Avg commute (min) Ann Arbor, MI — Avg commute (min): 24 24 Washington, DC — Avg commute (min): 34 34 Avg summer high °F Ann Arbor, MI — Avg summer high °F: 83° 83° Washington, DC — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Avg winter low °F Ann Arbor, MI — Avg winter low °F: 16° 16° Washington, DC — Avg winter low °F: 29° 29°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Ann Arbor, MI, you'd need about $111,608 in Washington, DC (+$11,608).

Livability — Ann Arbor, MI: 61 · Washington, DC: 39 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,951 sqft in Ann Arbor vs 1,286 sqft in Washington ($256 vs $389 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryAnn Arbor, MIWashington, DCDifference
Housing $24,816 $28,992 +$4,176
Groceries $4,703 $5,318 +$615
Transportation $4,575 $3,855 −$720
Utilities $2,316 $2,748 +$432
Insurance $1,300 $1,400 +$100
Taxes $11,605 $17,710 +$6,105
Total $49,315 $60,023 +$10,708

Side by side

MetricAnn Arbor, MIWashington, DC
Cost-of-living index98.2109.5
Unemployment rate4.69%4.87%
Population growth (5-yr)2.4%4.2%
Air quality (median AQI)4349
Big Mac price (est.)$5.58$6.23
Median home price$422,945$583,013
Home price ÷ income5.0×4.9×
1-yr home appreciation2.5%-0.5%
Price per square foot$256$389
Median rent$2,068$2,416
Total tax burden (% income)10.0%12.0%
Combined sales tax6.00%6.00%
Capital gains tax4.25%10.75%
Property tax rate1.56%0.95%
Healthcare (annual)$6,500$7,800
Childcare (annual, infant)$11,000$26,000
Vehicle property tax0.61%None
Avg commute (min)2434
Home insurance / yr$1,300$1,400
Auto insurance / yr$2,700$2,000
Flood insurance / yr$600$800
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh21.425.4
Gas $/gal3.353.40
Violent crime /100k4601,000
Avg summer high °F8388
Avg winter low °F1629
Permit difficulty (1–5)34

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