Uprootmap
Chicago vs Ann Arbor
Chicago and Ann Arbor
Photo: Gsgeorge / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Ann Arbor are under the US rate in this release, 3.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Ann Arbor
In 2022-2023, 336 households filed a move from Chicago to Ann Arbor (about 492 people, average adjusted gross income $108,060). 552 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,492 in Ann Arbor. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Ann Arbor has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Ann Arbor is 91% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Ann Arbor averages 173 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 23°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Ann Arbor and 33 in Chicago.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 336 households moved Chicago → Ann Arbor (about 492 people, average AGI $108,060). 552 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 Chicago and Ann Arbor changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 250 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,400
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,300
- Rent a truck
- $500–$950
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Dig into Ann Arbor
Questions
Is Ann Arbor cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Ann Arbor leaves about $385 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,492 in Ann Arbor.
Does Ann Arbor have state income tax?
Ann Arbor is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Ann Arbor?
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.