2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ames, IA vs Auburn Hills, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Auburn Hills or is it cheaper to live in Ames?
- Auburn Hills is 19.7% more expensive than Ames.

Which city has more affordable housing, Auburn Hills or Ames?
- Auburn Hills housing costs are 16.6% less expensive than Ames housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ames or is Health Care more affordable in Auburn Hills.
- Health related expenses are 33.9% less in Auburn Hills.
 Ames, IAAuburn Hills, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock104.9100
 Food & Groceries97.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock79.9100
 Housing88.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$230,400$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock112.1100
 Miscellaneous114.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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Reviews for Auburn Hills    2 Reviews

I moved here two years ago from California and am really glad I found this place. It's got way more parks than you'd ever expect for a place this size, it's not very  More

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Daimler is head quartered there. They have good schools. I have lived there my entire life except for the four years I went to college. The downtown area is going under  More

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