

Ann Arbor vs Jackson
$252/mo more in Jackson
Ann ArborJacksonAbout 30 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Jackson leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,354/mo in Jackson. $2,102/mo in Ann Arbor. +$3,024 a year.
Ann Arbor
$2,102
left each month
Jackson
$2,354
+$252 vs Ann Arbor
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 316 households moved Ann Arbor → Jackson (avg AGI $67,405). 257 went the other way. The whole move →
+$252 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ann Arbor | Jackson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,125 | $6,860 | −$265 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,768 | $1,675 | −$93 |
| Take-home pay | $5,357 | $5,184 | −$173 |
| Rent | $1,492 | $893 | −$599 |
| Getting around | $394 | $568 | +$174 |
| Groceries | $378 | $378 | $0 |
| Healthcare | $425 | $425 | $0 |
| Utilities | $236 | $236 | $0 |
| Everything else | $330 | $330 | $0 |
| Left over | $2,102 | $2,354 | +$252 |
Salary to match Ann Arbor
$77,500
Gross pay in Jackson that leaves the same amount as $85,500 in Ann Arbor.
Tax difference
+$167
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.8% in Ann Arbor, 24.4% in Jackson.
More about Jackson
Ann Arbor, MI in full
A flat 4.25% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,776 and 173 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.
Jackson, MI in full
A flat 4.25% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,063 and 168 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.
The other way
Start in Jackson.
Jackson → Ann Arbor →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Jackson than Ann Arbor?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Jackson leaves about $252 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $893 in Jackson.
Does Jackson have state income tax?
Jackson is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
What changes if you move from Ann Arbor to Jackson?
The paycheck is taxed in Michigan. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Ann Arbor and Jackson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.