CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Lancaster, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Kalamazoo is slightly cheaper than Lancaster — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.0%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Lancaster
93.8
🛒 Groceries+7.5%
Kalamazoo
93.7
Lancaster
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.8%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Lancaster
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.9%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Lancaster
92.8
Utilities+8.1%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Lancaster
107.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lancaster, PA
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Lancaster

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 1.0369. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Lancaster has 15.0% higher housing costs compared to Kalamazoo.

Income & Job Market

Kalamazoo, MI

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

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Kalamazoo, MI
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Lancaster, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.