CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Kalamazoo is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $88,400 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+37.0%
Kalamazoo
81.6
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+10.0%
Kalamazoo
93.7
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
Kalamazoo
104.5
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
Kalamazoo
94.6
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities5.8%
Kalamazoo
99.3
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$88,400
$8,400 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 1.1055. 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×

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

St. Paul has 37.0% 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

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

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)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.