CostIndexUSA

Ann Arbor, MI vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Ann Arbor is slightly cheaper than Olympia — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ann Arbor, you would need $82,200 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.9%
Ann Arbor
125.3
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
Ann Arbor
93.7
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Ann Arbor
104.5
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Ann Arbor
94.6
Olympia
94.5
Utilities6.6%
Ann Arbor
98.2
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0278. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ann Arbor, MI

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

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Ann Arbor has 6.9% lower housing costs compared to Olympia.

Income & Job Market

Ann Arbor, MI

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

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

71% of income left after rent (median)

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.