2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
East Lansing, MI vs Ann Arbor, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or is it cheaper to live in East Lansing?
- Ann Arbor is 26.2% more expensive than East Lansing.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ann Arbor or East Lansing?
- Ann Arbor housing costs are 69.1% more expensive than East Lansing housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in East Lansing or is Health Care more affordable in Ann Arbor.
- Health related expenses are 8.0% less in Ann Arbor.
 East Lansing, MIAnn Arbor, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock105.5100
 Food & Groceries95.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock80.9100
 Housing84.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$455,500$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock100.1100
 Miscellaneous107.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for East Lansing    4 Reviews

East Lansing is a wonderful, lively, youthful college town that has gotten better over time. You feel the strong Spartan Spirit everywhere as students, alumni and locals  More

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East Lansing is noted for being the home of one of the first Land Grant colleges -- Michigan State University. MSU has an large campus with an enormous area of land  More

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Over 17 years ago

East Lansing is a very pretty town. The town has had frequent problems with student rioters. Overall 60% of the town is composed of students. I would recommend East  More

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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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