Home › MI › Kalamazoo, MI Cost of living in Kalamazoo, MI Livability score 64 · cost-of-living index 94.1 (US = 100)
How Kalamazoo compares Where Kalamazoo falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $280k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $280k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $170 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $170 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.52% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.52% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 460 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 460 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 83° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 83° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 16° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 16° Map of Kalamazoo Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #83 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #31 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.35 metro-area #83 of 200 Median household income $67,905 metro-area #121 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,041 metro-area #147 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 34.9 years metro-area #28 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 40.8% metro-area #37 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.8% metro-area #145 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 63.9% metro-area #128 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 6.44% metro-area #170 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -22.0% metro-area #200 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $279,752 metro-area #63 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.1× metro-area #62 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.3% metro-area #28 of 200 Price per square foot $170 metro-area #79 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,298 metro-area #26 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 674 Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% state #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.52% metro-area #147 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,185 metro-area #128 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 77.1 years metro-area #81 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.1% metro-area #20 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 99 metro-area #17 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $11,000 state #99 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $200 state #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.61% of value (~$171/yr) state #109 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 20 min metro-area #14 of 200 Commute by driving alone 77.8% metro-area #142 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 20.8% metro-area #15 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.4¢/kWh state #141 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal state #111 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $74 state #28 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,700 state #175 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 81.7 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #37 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 45 metro-area #91 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 metro-area #14 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 87% state #151 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 6,600 metro-area #181 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 7 metro-area #32 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 83°F metro-area #21 of 200 Avg winter low 16°F metro-area #168 of 200 Annual precipitation 39.4" metro-area #78 of 200 Annual snowfall 77.6" metro-area #197 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 46% metro-area #194 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 460 state #143 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,600 state #37 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 17 metro-area #186 of 200 Parks 4 Hiking areas 6 Golf courses 11 Shooting ranges 1 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Kalamazoo Major public and private employers in the Kalamazoo, MI area.
Employer Sector Jobs Borgess Medical Center Healthcare Careers → Pfizer Healthcare Careers → Western Michigan University Education Careers → Stryker Corporation Healthcare Careers → Bronson Methodist Hospital Healthcare Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Kalamazoo Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $154,410 Pharmacists $137,180 Financial Managers $127,690 Human Resources Managers $123,960 Marketing Managers $123,340 Physician Assistants $118,570 Construction Managers $105,240 Lawyers $102,050 Software Developers $99,860 Mechanical Engineers $97,650 Physical Therapists $96,700 General & Operations Managers $92,820 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $83,500 Civil Engineers $82,130 Data Scientists $81,130 Registered Nurses $81,040 Dental Hygienists $77,810 Accountants & Auditors $73,120 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $69,770 Elementary School Teachers $62,670 Electricians $60,830 Graphic Designers $51,120 Carpenters $51,050 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,480 Real Estate Sales Agents $48,860 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,510 Medical Assistants $40,580
Cities in the Kalamazoo area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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