Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, DE and Ann Arbor, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, DE and Ann Arbor, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,520 in Newark, DE versus $2,594 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,645 in Newark, DE versus $4,000 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,770 in Newark, DE versus $5,407 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Newark, DE costs roughly 3% less than in Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newark, DE 88% above, Ann Arbor, MI 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.30 $16.30

$15.69 $15.69

3.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 $59.4

$76.3 $76.3

-22.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 $7.13

$11.83 $11.83

-39.73%

Cappuccino

$4.83 $4.83

$4.66 $4.66

3.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.65 $2.65

-18.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.08 $2.08

20.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 $3.26

$6.07 $6.07

-46.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.82 $5.82

-13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.82 $0.82

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.60 $3.60

-43.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$5.93 $5.93

-39.80%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.69 $2.69

57.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$17.87 $17.87

-11.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$9.99 $9.99

-12.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.01 $14.01

11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$5.58 $5.58

0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.65 $1.65

26.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$4.44 $4.44

18.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.03 $5.03

-2.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.20 $2.20

34.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.60 $3.60

7.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.64 $1.64

17.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 $1.32

$2.39 $2.39

-44.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.68 $12.68

$9.85 $9.85

28.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.87 $16.87

$14.78 $14.78

14.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.02 $2.02

-14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.44 $3.44

34.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.73 $1.73

133.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.1 $60.1

$45.51 $45.51

32.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.06 $3.06

28.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.54 $1.54

-6.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.42 $30.42

$26.92 $26.92

13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.88 $0.88

-2.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.2K $17.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

-32.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.9K $20.9K

$25.0K $25.0K

-16.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$209 $209

$159 $159

31.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.9 $51.9

$48.28 $48.28

7.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 $52.5

$66.9 $66.9

-21.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.91 $42.91

$44.29 $44.29

-3.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 $17.14

Cinema Ticket

$12.79 $12.79

$12.25 $12.25

4.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$1,935 $1,935

40.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.4K $40.4K

$20.3K $20.3K

99.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$54.4 $54.4

45.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.71 $40.71

$36.43 $36.43

11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$84.7 $84.7

19.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.3 $99.3

46.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 $1,549

$1,827 $1,827

-15.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,321 $1,321

$1,359 $1,359

-2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,296 $2,296

$3,878 $3,878

-40.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 $2,011

$2,639 $2,639

-23.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,542 $2,542

$5,453 $5,453

-53.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,244 $2,244

$2,588 $2,588

-13.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,320 $4,320

$4,746 $4,746

-8.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.62

-2.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Newark, DE: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,549 in Newark, DE and $1,827 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59 in Newark, DE vs $76 in Ann Arbor, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $401 per month, with Newark, DE cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Newark, DE vs Ann Arbor, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newark, DE and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,520 vs $2,594 including rent). Newark, DE is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ann Arbor, MI earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,549 in Newark, DE versus $1,827 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Newark, DE – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $76.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,520 per month in Newark, DE versus $2,594 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newark, DE is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Newark, DE and Ann Arbor, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Newark, DE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.