CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Bowling Green is moderately cheaper than Kalamazoo — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $84,100 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.7%
Bowling Green
63.4
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Bowling Green
96.2
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation+2.8%
Bowling Green
101.7
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Bowling Green
92
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+32.0%
Bowling Green
75.2
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0510. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Home Price
$259,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
63.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Kalamazoo has 28.7% higher housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Household Income
$60,600
Per Capita Income
$34,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
72,294
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationRetailAutomotive

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).

Bowling Green, KY
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)

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.