Ann Arbor Cost of Living (Ypsilanti, Saline: apartment, rent, how much)

[OldMarket]

What would be a fair estimate of what I would need to make per year to live there? Obviously the lifestyle is unknown but in general a family of five would need how much to live comfortable? Would 50,000 get it done until my wife found some work? She is a nurse so it would happen in due time. I have a job there just not sure if I should take it.

Thanks in advance

[NWDreamin]

Originally Posted by OldMarket

What would be a fair estimate of what I would need to make per year to live there? Obviously the lifestyle is unknown but in general a family of five would need how much to live comfortable? Would 50,000 get it done until my wife found some work? She is a nurse so it would happen in due time. I have a job there just not sure if I should take it.

Thanks in advance

That's going to be really really tough in A^2. Cost of living is pretty high there - if you wanted to live just outside Ann Arbor in some of the smaller towns nearby, you'd do much better (just my opinion).

Cheers.

[canudigit]

To live within the city of Ann Arbor itself is quite expensive. All of the students from U of M combined with all of the young medical professionals, etc. who live there drive up the cost of rent considerably, as does the fact that Ann Arbor is consistently rated one of the best college towns and one of the best places to live in the U.S. A small one bedroom apartment, based on what a co-worker who is looking told me last week, will run you about $800+/month in a good area, and obviously that wouldn't be adequate for a family of five.

I agree with the pp, check out some of the smaller, family-oriented communities within about 20 min. of Ann Arbor, there are several to choose from. Chelsea, Saline, Dexter, Dundee, Milan...all are safe and family friendly and just a short commute to AA for work or fun and cultural activities, and they are all going to have a lower cost of living than AA. I am also a nurse, and my job takes me into patients' homes. There is a LOT of money in AA, many wealthy people, and that also drives up the cost of living. However, the nicest, most down to earth people that I meet are almost always in places like Chelsea, Dexter, and Dundee. Those communities tend to be very actively involved in their schools too, so they are good places to raise kids. I am not implying that people in AA don't care about their schools, but it is a much bigger district so you don't get that "'everyone looks out for each other" feeling as much as in a smaller community.

[kristineelise]

AA has some cheap housing if you are buying a home, if renting live in Ypsilanti or Belleville.