CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Baton Rouge is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $83,500 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+10.0%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation+4.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Kalamazoo
94.6
⚡ Utilities+39.5%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baton Rouge to see what you'd need to earn in Kalamazoo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.0441. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Kalamazoo, MI

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
81.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Kalamazoo has 10.0% higher housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Kalamazoo, MI

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
72,305
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingPharmaceuticalsFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Kalamazoo, MI
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Baton Rouge vs other cities

Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 87.2
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 85.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 83.6
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Richmond, VA
Index: 90.8Index: 97.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Santa Clarita, CA
Index: 90.8Index: 113.6

Kalamazoo vs other cities

Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Ann Arbor, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 100.9
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 100.3
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 94.8Index: 93
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Bowling Green, KY
Index: 94.8Index: 90.2
Kalamazoo, MI
vs
Daytona Beach, FL
Index: 94.8Index: 99.4

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.