How Much to Retire in Ann Arbor, MI (2026)
Cost-of-living index 105 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$54,600/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.4M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for Ann Arbor's COL index (105 vs 100 US average). Nest egg uses the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual × 25).
Small apartment, cook at home, public transit, minimal travel
1BR apartment, dining out occasionally, one modest vacation/year
2BR home, regular dining out, two vacations/year, newer car
Owned home, frequent travel, generous entertainment budget
Upscale home, luxury travel, golf/clubs, full-time help
Monthly budget breakdown by tier
Estimated monthly allocation across spending categories
| Category | Modest | Comfortable | Premium | Affluent | Luxurious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $924 | $1,502 | $2,166 | $3,176 | $5,053 |
| Food | $420 | $683 | $984 | $1,444 | $2,297 |
| Healthcare | $392 | $637 | $919 | $1,348 | $2,144 |
| Transport | $336 | $546 | $788 | $1,155 | $1,838 |
| Leisure | $392 | $637 | $919 | $1,348 | $2,144 |
| Misc | $336 | $546 | $788 | $1,155 | $1,838 |
| Total / month | $2,800 | $4,550 | $6,563 | $9,625 | $15,313 |
Nest egg targets
How much you need saved to fund each lifestyle, using the 4% safe withdrawal rule
| Tier | Annual spend | Monthly spend | Nest egg (4% rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest | $33,600 | $2,800 | $840K |
| Comfortable | $54,600 | $4,550 | $1.4M |
| Premium | $78,750 | $6,563 | $2.0M |
| Affluent | $115,500 | $9,625 | $2.9M |
| Luxurious | $183,750 | $15,313 | $4.6M |
Ann Arbor retirement context
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in Ann Arbor?
For a comfortable retirement in Ann Arbor, plan on roughly $54,600/year ($4,550/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.4M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$33,600/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$78,750/year.
Is Ann Arbor a good place to retire?
Ann Arbor has a cost of living close to the US average (index 105). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for Ann Arbor?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by Ann Arbor's cost-of-living index (105 vs 100 US average). Nest egg targets use the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual spend × 25). The budget allocation assumes roughly 33% housing, 15% food, 14% healthcare, 12% transport, 14% leisure, and 12% miscellaneous.
Deep-dive by tier
Spending estimates adjusted by BLS cost-of-living data · 4% safe withdrawal rule (Bengen 1994) · 2026 estimates · For general guidance only