Ann Arbor vs Beaumont
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ann Arbor
Beaumont
The Verdict
Living in Beaumont costs 46.2% less than Ann Arbor. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Ann Arbor, you would need $51,316 in Beaumont.
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 $51,316 in Beaumont.
Conversely, $75,000 in Beaumont equals $109,615 in Ann Arbor.
Living in Ann Arbor vs Beaumont
Housing Costs
Ann Arbor's housing index of 135 is higher Beaumont's 81, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $166,000. The $234,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,216 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Ann Arbor compared to $1,000/mo in Beaumont, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 96 in Beaumont. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Ann Arbor vs $456/month in Beaumont. 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 102 in Beaumont. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Ann Arbor vs $408 in Beaumont. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 104 in Beaumont. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,024 in Ann Arbor and $57,000 in Beaumont. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,039 and $73,077 respectively. Beaumont 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 $1,330/month in Beaumont. In Ann Arbor, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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