What is the cost of living in Kalamazoo, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kalamazoo has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Kalamazoo has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Kalamazoo ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Kalamazoo ranks as the #131 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Kalamazoo, check out:
Kalamazoo Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kalamazoo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kalamazoo is 93.
The Groceries index in Kalamazoo is 97.
The Health index in Kalamazoo is 72.
The Housing index in Kalamazoo is 95.
The Transportation index in Kalamazoo is 98.
The Utilities index in Kalamazoo is 97.
| Living Expense | Kalamazoo | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 72 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 98 | 100 |
Kalamazoo Cost Of Living Compared To Michigan Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kalamazoo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kalamazoo, MI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Kalamazoo is $236,274.
The Median Rent in Kalamazoo is $1,078.
The Median Income in Kalamazoo is $52,272.
The Home Value To Income in Kalamazoo is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kalamazoo is 0.25x.
Kalamazoo, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Kalamazoo Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Kalamazoo Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Kalamazoo Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed Kalamazoo Transportation costs vs. Michigan
Kalamazoo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kalamazoo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kalamazoo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Battle Creek, MI has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Kalamazoo.
Portage, MI has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Kalamazoo.
Westwood, MI has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Kalamazoo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek, MI | 52,374 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Portage, MI | 49,259 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Westwood, MI | 8,867 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Eastwood, MI | 6,669 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Comstock Northwest, MI | 5,391 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Springfield, MI | 5,269 | 80 | 0.9x |
