

Ann Arbor vs Monroe
$680/mo more in Monroe
Ann ArborMonroeAbout 30 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Monroe leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,782/mo in Monroe. $2,102/mo in Ann Arbor. +$8,160 a year.
Ann Arbor
$2,102
left each month
Monroe
$2,782
+$680 vs Ann Arbor
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 278 households moved Ann Arbor → Monroe (avg AGI $66,583). 230 went the other way. The whole move →
+$680 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ann Arbor | Monroe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,125 | $7,609 | +$484 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,768 | $1,937 | +$169 |
| Take-home pay | $5,357 | $5,672 | +$315 |
| Rent | $1,492 | $940 | −$552 |
| Getting around | $394 | $581 | +$187 |
| Groceries | $378 | $378 | $0 |
| Healthcare | $425 | $425 | $0 |
| Utilities | $236 | $236 | $0 |
| Everything else | $330 | $330 | $0 |
| Left over | $2,102 | $2,782 | +$680 |
Salary to match Ann Arbor
$79,000
Gross pay in Monroe that leaves the same amount as $85,500 in Ann Arbor.
Tax difference
−$305
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.8% in Ann Arbor, 25.5% in Monroe.
More about Monroe
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.
Monroe, MI in full
A flat 4.25% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,119 and 176 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.
The other way
Start in Monroe.
Monroe → Ann Arbor →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Monroe than Ann Arbor?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Monroe leaves about $680 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $940 in Monroe.
Does Monroe have state income tax?
Monroe is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
What changes if you move from Ann Arbor to Monroe?
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 Monroe 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.