City comparison
Ann Arbor, MI vs Kennewick, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Ann Arbor, MI (100.9) and Kennewick, WA (100.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Ann Arbor, MI goes as far as $99,200 in Kennewick, WA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,387 a month in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,268 in Kennewick, WA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Ann Arbor, MI and 19% in Kennewick, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,999 a year higher in Ann Arbor, MI than in Kennewick, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.3% moving from Ann Arbor, MI to Kennewick, WA ($117,402 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.6% in real buying power.
- Ann Arbor, MI: price level 100.9 (about average)
- Kennewick, WA: price level 100.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Ann Arbor, MI | Kennewick, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 100.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,206 in Kennewick | $100,800 in Ann Arbor |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,387/mo | $1,268/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,380 | $57,290 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ann Arbor, MI MSA and Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA. Metro areas: Ann Arbor, MI and Kennewick-Richland, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ann Arbor | Kennewick |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.3 | 94.8 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 98.2 | 93.6 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 100.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ann Arbor, MI → Kennewick, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,999/yr.
71 Strong offer
Kennewick, WA → Ann Arbor, MI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,999/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ann Arbor, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Kennewick, WA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Ann Arbor, MI to Kennewick, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ann Arbor, MI | Kennewick, WA | Real change, Ann Arbor → Kennewick |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $61,722 | −8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $74,678 | −8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $89,508 | −8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $106,437 | −8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $125,776 | −8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ann Arbor, MI | Kennewick, WA | Kennewick pay in Ann Arbor dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,060 | $100,380 | $101,183 (+58.0%) |
| Software Developers | $126,830 | $127,800 | $128,823 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $93,280 | $94,027 (+17.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,450 | $106,410 | $107,262 (+3.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.