Example household · Ann Arbor, MI · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

San Francisco skyline

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Ann Arbor vs San Francisco

Ann Arbor and San Francisco

Photo: Daniel L. Lu / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in San Francisco are under the US rate in this release, 5.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Ann Arbor to San Francisco

In 2022-2023, 240 households filed a move from Ann Arbor to San Francisco (about 301 people, average adjusted gross income $99,629). 86 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $2,635 in San Francisco. Ann Arbor has a state tax on wages. San Francisco has a state tax on wages. Local pay in San Francisco is 134% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Ann Arbor.

San Francisco averages 259 sunny days, with July highs around 68°F and January nights around 46°F. Ann Arbor is 173 sunny days, 82°F in July, 23°F in January. Commutes average 32 minutes in San Francisco and 23 in Ann Arbor.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 240 households moved Ann Arbor → San Francisco (about 301 people, average AGI $99,629). 86 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Ann Arbor and San Francisco changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 2,448 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$4,750–$8,950
Container or pod
$3,450–$6,450
Rent a truck
$2,200–$4,100

Movers in San Francisco and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is San Francisco cheaper than Ann Arbor after tax and rent?

No. San Francisco leaves about $1,765 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,492 in Ann Arbor and $2,635 in San Francisco.

Does San Francisco have state income tax?

San Francisco is in California, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Ann Arbor to San Francisco?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.