Ann Arbor vs Appleton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ann Arbor
Appleton
The Verdict
Appleton is 29.5% less expensive than Ann Arbor overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ann Arbor would need approximately $57,895 in Appleton to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Ann Arbor has the same purchasing power as $57,895 in Appleton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Appleton equals $97,159 in Ann Arbor.
Living in Ann Arbor vs Appleton
Housing Costs
Ann Arbor's housing index of 135 is higher Appleton's 91, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $279,000. The $121,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,860 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Ann Arbor compared to $950/mo in Appleton, a monthly difference of $650.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 98 in Appleton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Ann Arbor vs $466/month in Appleton. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Ann Arbor and 70 in Appleton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Ann Arbor vs $280 in Appleton. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 116 in Appleton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,024 in Ann Arbor and $80,500 in Appleton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,039 and $91,477 respectively. Appleton residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,517/month to housing in Ann Arbor vs $1,878/month in Appleton. In Ann Arbor, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Appleton, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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