CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Kalamazoo is slightly cheaper than Charlottesville — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $76,500 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.7%
Charlottesville
107
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Charlottesville
96.8
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Charlottesville
103.5
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Charlottesville
93.7
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+11.6%
Charlottesville
89
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9566. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
107
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Charlottesville has 23.7% lower housing costs compared to Kalamazoo.

Income & Job Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Household Income
$92,300
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
46,553
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentTourism

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).

Charlottesville, VA
3.9×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.