CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Columbus is moderately cheaper than Kalamazoo — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $84,900 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.3%
Columbus
61.2
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Columbus
96.3
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Columbus
103.5
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Columbus
93.6
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+10.7%
Columbus
89.7
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$84,900
$4,900 more needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.0616. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Kalamazoo has 33.3% higher housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.