CostIndexUSA

Kalamazoo, MI vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Kalamazoo
94.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is slightly cheaper than Kalamazoo — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kalamazoo, you would need $78,100 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.3%
Kalamazoo
81.6
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kalamazoo
93.7
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Kalamazoo
104.5
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.4%
Kalamazoo
94.6
Waco
91.4
Utilities18.4%
Kalamazoo
99.3
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 94.8) = salary × 0.9768. 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×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Waco 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

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.