CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Kalamazoo and Lansing have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.3%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
104.5
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
94.6
Lansing
94.6
Utilities3.8%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$80,200
$200 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 1.0021. 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×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lansing has 2.3% 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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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)

Lansing, MI
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.