CostIndexUSA

Albany, NY vs Ann Arbor, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNY
Albany
99.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
MI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent

Albany is slightly cheaper than Ann Arbor — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albany, you would need $81,000 in Ann Arbor. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+22.1%
Albany
102.6
Ann Arbor
125.3
🛒 Groceries6.0%
Albany
99.7
Ann Arbor
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.9%
Albany
102.6
Ann Arbor
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.8%
Albany
92.9
Ann Arbor
94.6
Utilities26.7%
Albany
134
Ann Arbor
98.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albany to see what you'd need to earn in Ann Arbor to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Ann Arbor, MI
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Ann Arbor

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 99.6) = salary × 1.0131. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albany, NY

Median Home Price
$350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
102.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Home Price
$398,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
125.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Ann Arbor has 22.1% higher housing costs compared to Albany.

Income & Job Market

Albany, NY

Median Household Income
$82,400
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
98,111
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceTechnology

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
123,851
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareManufacturingResearch

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albany, NY
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Ann Arbor, MI
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.