City comparison
Ann Arbor, MI vs Portland, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 4.5% higher than in Ann Arbor, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Ann Arbor, MI would need about $104,500 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $1,387 in Ann Arbor, MI. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 22% in Ann Arbor, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,921 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Ann Arbor, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.3% moving from Ann Arbor, MI to Portland, OR ($117,402 → $114,684), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.5% in real buying power.
- Ann Arbor, MI: price level 100.9 (about average)
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Ann Arbor, MI | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 105.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,501 in Portland | $95,693 in Ann Arbor |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,387/mo | $1,677/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 28% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,380 | $60,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Ann Arbor, MI MSA and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA. Metro areas: Ann Arbor, MI and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ann Arbor | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.3 | 125.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 98.2 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100.1 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 105.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ann Arbor, MI → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,921/yr.
50 Fair offer
Portland, OR → Ann Arbor, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$3,921/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ann Arbor, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Portland, OR is in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Ann Arbor, MI to Portland, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ann Arbor, MI | Portland, OR | Real change, Ann Arbor → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $66,505 | −6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $80,465 | −6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $96,443 | −6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $114,684 | −6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $135,522 | −6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ann Arbor, MI | Portland, OR | Portland pay in Ann Arbor dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,060 | $82,330 | $78,784 (+23.0%) |
| Software Developers | $126,830 | $156,000 | $149,280 (+17.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $92,200 | $88,228 (+10.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,450 | $130,310 | $124,697 (+20.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.