2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ann Arbor, MI vs San Rafael, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Rafael or is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor?
- San Rafael is 118.1% more expensive than Ann Arbor.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Rafael or Ann Arbor?
- San Rafael housing costs are 210.5% more expensive than Ann Arbor housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ann Arbor or is Health Care more affordable in San Rafael.
- Health related expenses are 36.1% more in San Rafael.
 Ann Arbor, MISan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock230.1100
 Food & Groceries102.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.1100
 Housing143.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,209,300$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock118.7100
 Miscellaneous130.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ann Arbor    49 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

Highly educated city. traffic and parking is bad. university culture is nice, not sure about elsewhere. no good pizza! if you're looking for food, I recommend "a taste  More

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Uh, compared to my other favorite college towns this one lacks flavor. Safer and kinda pretty, but not the greenest place, it's fine. Good restaurants, music, art,  More

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Over 10 years ago

Ann Arbor bus service (AATA) is quite good. The Detroit Metro Airport is only a 20 min. drive away and is also quite good. The traffic in Ann Arbor is usually mild  More

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Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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