CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $75,000 in Kalamazoo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing32.3%
Fort Collins
120.6
Kalamazoo
81.6
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
Kalamazoo
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Collins
104.8
Kalamazoo
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Collins
94.8
Kalamazoo
94.6
Utilities+20.8%
Fort Collins
82.2
Kalamazoo
99.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kalamazoo, MI
$75,000
$5,000 less needed in Kalamazoo

Formula: salary × (94.8 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9377. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Fort Collins has 32.3% lower housing costs compared to Kalamazoo.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.