Ann Arbor vs Irving
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ann Arbor
Irving
The Verdict
Irving is 14.0% less expensive than Ann Arbor overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ann Arbor would need approximately $65,789 in Irving 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 $65,789 in Irving.
Conversely, $75,000 in Irving equals $85,500 in Ann Arbor.
Living in Ann Arbor vs Irving
Housing Costs
Ann Arbor's housing index of 135 is higher Irving's 94, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $318,000. The $82,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,328 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Ann Arbor compared to $1,350/mo in Irving, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Ann Arbor and 99 in Irving. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Ann Arbor vs $470/month in Irving. 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 111 in Irving. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Ann Arbor vs $444 in Irving. 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 103 in Irving. 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 $73,400 in Irving. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,039 and $73,400 respectively. Irving 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 $1,713/month in Irving. In Ann Arbor, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Irving, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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